Author: James Anderson

Suboxone: Side effects, dosage, use for dependence, and more

how to take a suboxone pill

Keep the film under your tongue until it has completely dissolved. One of Suboxone’s active ingredients, buprenorphine, can be used alone to treat severe pain that hasn’t been controlled with other pain medications. However, it has caused death when given as a pain medication to people who aren’t tolerant to opioids. On the second day, your doctor may give you the total dose of Suboxone you received on the first day. But if you’ve had significant withdrawal symptoms, your doctor may increase this dose by 2 mg buprenorphine/0.5 mg naloxone or 4 mg buprenorphine/1 mg naloxone.

After withdrawal, your doctor may keep you on Suboxone as maintenance treatment. It keeps your opioid cravings at bay as you work on your recovery long term. Physicians will need to decide when they cannot appropriately provide further management for particular patients. In such cases, the physician may want to assess whether to refer the patient to a specialist or more intensive behavioral treatment environment.

  1. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
  2. Contact your doctor if you’re having side effects from Suboxone.
  3. These opioids include heroin, codeine, morphine, and oxycodone (Oxycontin, Roxicodone).
  4. Talk with your healthcare provider which option would be best suited to you.

In one clinical trial, insomnia occurred in about 14% of people taking Suboxone. This side effect may go away with continued use of the drug. In a clinical trial, sweating occurred in about 14% of people taking Suboxone. In one clinical trial, headache occurred in about 36% of people taking Suboxone.

Suboxone generic

Hair loss is not a side effect that has been reported in clinical trials of Suboxone. However, some people who take Suboxone have reported having hair loss. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Drinking grapefruit juice while taking Suboxone might increase levels of Suboxone and increase your risk of side effects. If you’re taking Suboxone, don’t drink grapefruit juice. Before taking Suboxone, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. Generic versions often cost less than brand-name drugs.

Switching Between Sublingual and Buccal Sites of Administration

When certain opioids are used long term for treating pain or for a “high,” tolerance to those effects can happen over time. This means your body gets used to the drug and you need higher and higher doses to get the same effect. Suboxone is sometimes prescribed off-label for treating pain.

Taking Suboxone with Ambien (zolpidem) can increase the risk of severe side effects. Suboxone and Bunavail contain the same drugs and are used in the same way to treat opioid dependence. Suboxone and Zubsolv contain the same drugs and are used in the same way to treat opioid dependence. Suboxone and methadone have been compared in clinical studies evaluating their use for treating opioid dependence. You may wonder how Suboxone compares to other drugs used to treat opioid dependence.

how to take a suboxone pill

If an additional film is necessary to achieve the prescribed dose, place an additional film on the inside of the opposite cheek. The film must be kept on the inside of the cheek until the film is completely dissolved. If a third film is necessary to achieve the prescribed dose, place it on the inside of the right or left cheek after the first two films have dissolved. Suboxone is a Schedule III medication that’s misused similar to other opioid medications. Long-term use of Suboxone can lead to physical and psychological dependence and drug-craving and drug-seeking behavior.

How Suboxone works

Short-acting opioids include heroin, codeine, morphine, and oxycodone (Oxycontin, Roxicodone). Other drugs may interact with buprenorphine and naloxone, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat opioid use disorder. Suboxone comes as a film that dissolves in your mouth. Suboxone is only prescribed for induction if you are dependent on a short-acting opioid. Short-acting opioids include morphine, heroin, and oxycodone.

Suboxone vs. Vivitrol

If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. The following list contains some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Suboxone. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records.