Suboxone is a prescription drug commonly used to treat opioid addiction in medication-assisted treatment (MAT). While it may help people manage withdrawal symptoms, ironically, it can also be addictive. As devastating as it is, some patients looking to free themselves from opioid dependence end up swapping it for Suboxone addiction.
Whether you’re considering taking Suboxone to alleviate opioid withdrawal symptoms or looking for ways to prevent or combat Suboxone addiction, look no further.
This article will explore the most important aspects of Suboxone addiction, including its signs and symptoms, causes and risk factors, prevention tips, treatment options, and more.
What Is Suboxone?
Suboxone is a prescription opioid-based drug used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD), approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002. It is prescribed as a film or tablet, both of which need to be dissolved in the mouth.
Also available under other brand names, such as Zubsolv, Suboxone is a combination of:
- Buprenorphine (80%). As a semi-synthetic partial opioid agonist derived from thebaine, buprenorphine is often used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to help people recover from opioid addiction.
- Naloxone (20%). Naloxone is an opioid antagonist designed to negate the effects of other opioids and reverse an opioid overdose.
Thanks to these ingredients, Suboxone can help people manage opioid withdrawal symptoms, making it easier to stop using more potent opioids, such as oxycodone.
However, if Suboxone is administered too early, i.e., while another opioid is still in the system, you may experience precipitated withdrawal symptoms.
Once taken, Suboxone gradually releases buprenorphine into your system and binds to the opioid receptors in the brain, alleviating withdrawal symptoms. Typically, its effects start within 20–45 minutes after ingestion and last for up to 72 hours. Learn more about how long buprenorphine stays in your body in our How Long Does Buprenorphine Stay in Your System article.
However, as a partial opioid agonist, Suboxone doesn’t activate opioid receptors fully. As such, it has a “ceiling effect” that prevents Suboxone abuse. This means that at a certain point, the effects of Suboxone reach their peak, and taking more of the drug won’t make them more intense.
In fact, rather than making you feel “high,” misusing Suboxone by injecting it or taking it at larger doses can cause naloxone release, which may trigger withdrawal symptoms.
Importantly, Suboxone should not be confused with Subutex. While both are FDA-approved medications used for the treatment of OUD, Subutex contains only buprenorphine.
Side Effects of Suboxone
Like most medications, Suboxone can cause various side effects that range in severity.
Some of the most common side effects of Suboxone include:
- Anxiety
- Blurred vision
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Inability to fall or stay asleep
- Lightheadedness
- Mouth redness and burning sensation in the mouth
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Tongue pain
Besides these, Suboxone can sometimes lead to severe side effects that may require immediate medical attention, such as:
- Allergic reactions (swelling of the throat or face, hives, etc.)
- Difficulty breathing
- Impaired coordination
- Tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental problems
- Weight gain or weight loss
Is Suboxone Addictive?
Although Suboxone is meant to treat opioid use disorder, it can be addictive due to its main active ingredient, buprenorphine.
While it’s undeniable that buprenorphine has a lower potential for abuse than full opioid agonists, such as hydrocodone or morphine, it can still affect brain chemistry and lead to physical dependence and addiction.
Because of this, buprenorphine and its products, including Suboxone, are classified as Schedule III controlled substances and can only be obtained by prescription.
Sadly, it’s not unheard of for people to undergo buprenorphine-assisted treatment only to develop an addiction to Suboxone. For this reason, you should always follow your doctor’s instructions closely when taking these drugs to minimize the risk of swapping one opioid addiction for another.
Suboxone Abuse Statistics
Here are some statistics that’ll give you more insight into the prevalence of Suboxone use, abuse, and addiction:
- In 2010, 52% of buprenorphine-related emergency department visits involved nonmedical drug use. Out of these, 59% also involved additional drugs. The number of such visits increased by a whopping 255% between 2006 and 2010.
- In 2017, buprenorphine was found to be the most commonly misused prescription opioid.
- In 2020, over 2.8 million buprenorphine prescriptions were issued to more than 330,000 patients.
- In 2021, 22.2% of people over the age of 12 who used buprenorphine products for any purpose misused this substance.
- Between July 2019 and June 2021, 1,955 deaths (2.2% of all overdose deaths) were linked to buprenorphine. Nearly 93% of them involved the use of other drugs besides buprenorphine.
- In the United States, only around 3% of physicians have the credentials needed to prescribe buprenorphine.
Suboxone Addiction Signs and Symptoms
Suboxone addiction, just like any other substance use disorder, is a disease that can be successfully treated.
Recognizing it is the first step to opioid recovery, so let’s look at some of the most common physical and behavioral symptoms of Suboxone addiction.
Suboxone Addiction Physical Symptoms
Experiencing digestive issues, appetite loss, cravings, and other Suboxone withdrawal symptoms after quitting or reducing drug use is a tell-tale sign of Suboxone addiction.
Here are more physical symptoms that could indicate that you or someone you love is suffering from Suboxone abuse and addiction:
- Blurred vision
- Increased heart rate
- Loss of coordination
- Nausea
- Shallow breathing
- Slurred speech
- Sleep problems (sleeping too much or too little)
- Stomach ache
Often, the physical symptoms of Suboxone addiction are accompanied by cognitive and psychological symptoms. These may include confusion, deteriorating mental health, suicidal ideation, mood swings, impaired decision-making, and decreased impulse control.
Suboxone Addiction Behavioral Symptoms
Suboxone addiction can also be easily recognized by some behavioral symptoms, such as:
- Experiencing financial problems due to drug use
- Losing interest in activities that used to bring joy
- Becoming isolated from family and friends
- Spending a significant amount of time obtaining and using Suboxone
- Neglecting personal and professional obligations
- Hiding or lying about Suboxone use
- Abusing Suboxone (e.g., injecting it instead of letting it dissolve in the mouth)
- Struggling to stop, reduce, and control Suboxone use
- Continuing to use Suboxone despite its adverse effects on your life
- Stealing, forging prescriptions, doctor shopping, and trying to obtain Suboxone in other illegal ways
Suboxone Addiction Causes And Risk Factors
When taken as intended, Suboxone has a relatively low potential for addiction.
The main risk factor for Suboxone addiction is Suboxone abuse. This is often done by taking the medication more frequently or for a longer time than prescribed, as well as by taking it at larger doses than directed or for nonmedical purposes.
Meanwhile, the root cause of Suboxone addiction is the chemical imbalance caused by opioid use. As such, the risk of addiction may increase with long-term use of this drug. Since Suboxone contains buprenorphine, it affects your brain similarly to other opioids.
Over time, your body becomes accustomed to the usual dose of the drug and needs more of it to achieve the same effects. This is known as tolerance. Not only is it a tell-tale sign of dependence, but it also increases the risk of Suboxone abuse.
Once you become dependent on Suboxone, you’ll need it to function normally. Without it, you may experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. While dependence is purely physical, it can eventually lead to Suboxone addiction, a treatable brain condition that makes it incredibly difficult for people to control their drug use.
Suboxone Withdrawal Symptoms
If you quit Suboxone after developing an addiction to it, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms ranging from mildly uncomfortable to potentially life-threatening.
Some of the most common Suboxone withdrawal symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Appetite loss
- Body aches and cramping
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Fluctuating mood
- Goosebumps
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Nausea
- Runny nose
- Suboxone cravings
- Sweating
- Tremors
- Vomiting
These symptoms usually appear within the first 72 hours after the last dose and last for up to two weeks, though some symptoms (e.g., cravings, depression, etc.) may last longer.
Abruptly quitting Suboxone may cause particularly intense symptoms, thus increasing the risk of relapse and overdose. Because of this, you should never attempt to stop Suboxone without medical supervision.
Moreover, Accelerated Neuro-Regulation (ANR) is the only Suboxone addiction treatment that can help you overcome opioid addiction without having to suffer through painful withdrawal symptoms.
Risks of Suboxone Overdose
Although Suboxone carries a lower risk of overdose than full opioid agonists, it is still possible to overdose on it.
While taking the medication as directed minimizes the risk of Suboxone overdose, abusing it can have potentially life-threatening consequences. At worst, a Suboxone overdose could lead to a dangerously low heart rate, respiratory depression, coma, and death.
People often overdose on Suboxone when they mix it with other substances, such as alcohol or prescription opioids. Low tolerance to opioids also increases the risk of a Suboxone overdose.
Some signs of a Suboxone overdose you should never ignore include:
- Choking
- Cold, clammy skin
- Confusion
- Decreased coordination
- Dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
- Nausea
- Pinpoint pupils
- Seizures
- Skin and nail discoloration
- Slowed heart rate
- Vision impairments
- Vomiting
If you notice any of these signs in yourself or a loved one, call 911 immediately. Without timely medical care, a Suboxone overdose could be fatal.
How to Prevent Suboxone Addiction
While the risk of Suboxone addiction can only be reduced to zero by not taking the drug, it’s also possible to minimize this risk by taking Suboxone precisely as prescribed by a medical professional. After all, Suboxone abuse is the most significant risk factor for developing an addiction to this medication.
Here are some practical tips you can follow to take Suboxone responsibly and minimize the risk of Suboxone abuse, addiction, and overdose:
- Don’t drink alcohol while taking Suboxone.
- Inform your doctor about any other medications you’re taking.
- Store Suboxone safely, away from children and pets.
- If you experience any side effects, inform your doctor about them.
- Don’t alter your Suboxone dosage without your doctor’s approval.
ANR Treatment for Suboxone Addiction
Accelerated Neuro-Regulation (ANR) is a groundbreaking opioid addiction treatment that can help you conquer Suboxone addiction safely and effectively in just a few days.
The secret to its effectiveness lies in the fact that it tackles opioid addiction at its very core instead of just treating withdrawal symptoms.
By modulating your brain’s endorphin-receptor system and bringing your brain back to its normal state, ANR eliminates the root cause of addiction as well as the risk of relapse and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms!
Most importantly, the ANR treatment doesn’t involve buprenorphine, methadone, or other opioid replacement drugs. Therefore, by opting for ANR, you can forget about the fear of trading one opioid addiction for another!
Performed under sedation in an ICU setting of an accredited hospital by highly experienced medical professionals, the ANR treatment is very safe.
ANR isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution like traditional Suboxone addiction treatments. Instead, it’s customized individually for each patient. For this reason, it is the perfect choice for anyone struggling with opioid addiction, including those with complex health issues.
To get started with the ANR treatment, contact us today and book a free consultation!
Key Takeaways
Now that you’ve made it to the end of this article, you should be more familiar with the symptoms, causes, and other key aspects of Suboxone addiction.
Lastly, let’s go over the key points we covered today:
- Suboxone is a partial opioid agonist commonly prescribed to treat opioid use disorder, but it can also lead to addiction.
- Although Suboxone has a low potential for addiction when used as prescribed, abusing it increases the risk of becoming addicted to the drug.
- Some symptoms of Suboxone abuse include becoming withdrawn from loved ones, lying about Suboxone use, and having trouble controlling it.
- Never take Suboxone with alcohol or other medications without your doctor’s approval, as this may increase the risk of Suboxone addiction, overdose, and death.
- The ANR treatment is an innovative Suboxone addiction treatment that can help you overcome opioid addiction without the risk of becoming addicted to opioid replacement drugs.
Additional Information:
Rapid Suboxone Detox Risks & Why ANR Is a Better Solution
