Side Effects of Suboxone
Side Effects of Suboxone
Side Effects of Suboxone : The Big One
The major side effects of Suboxone (buprenorphine) that you should be concerned about is withdrawal. Although this is not technically a side effect, it happens to be the biggest problem the I’ve seen in my patients. Just like other narcotics, one becomes physically dependent on Suboxone.
If you stop or run out of the medication you will experience the same withdrawal symptoms as other narcotics. Withdrawal symptoms usually get severe between 2-5 days depending on how long one has taken Suboxone (Longer use: slower onset to withdrawal. Symptoms can last for weeks, but I’ve had patients say the withdrawl is not as severe as some other narcotics.
Suboxone Side Effects : Avoiding Medical Problems
Prior to taking Suboxone, a number of laboratory tests are evaluated. This will help limit some severe suboxone side effects. These are periodically monitored during treatment. Over sedation from the medication can impair functioning such as driving and operating heavy machinery. Risk of liver damage is a rare risk, but it is elevated in individuals who already have hepatitis, use alcohol, or on other medications that use may cause liver problems. Constipation is very common and may need prescription medication to resolve. Eating a high fiber diet has been helpful in my experience.
Side Effects of Suboxone Worsened With Other Drugs
Suboxone should not be taken with any benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Valium, or Klonopin. There have been deaths from this combination. Since the true risk of taking multiple sedatives (including alcohol) is unknown, I inform my patients they should avoid them all. Aside from death, combining sedatives will impair coordination and could lead to serious accidents.
One final major concern is how to deal with accidents. Once on Suboxone, other narcotics will either be less effective or not work at all. I’ve had patients fracture limbs (Getting in a car accident would be another situation). Patients should either wear a warning bracelet or carry a card in their wallet notifying medical personnel of them taking Suboxone.
In review, Suboxone is a safe medication. Risk of suboxone side effects, accidents, and death can be avoided by no ingesting any other sedatives and making sure to be examined by a physician.
Discuss Side Effects of Suboxone With A Buprenorphine (Suboxone) Doctor Near You:
If you feel you need help and are looking for a doctor who prescribes Suboxone, click here for our buprenophine physician registry. If you think you may need more intensive treatment such a methadone detox, other opioid detox, or getting started on buprenorphine inpatient, click here for our state opioid treatment center registry.
Here are more resources on the side effects of suboxone :
- Suboxone Abuse – Suboxone is a medication approved for the treatment of opiate dependence. Suboxone contains both a partial antagonist and agonist, therefore making the patient using Suboxone prone to dependence. Suboxone contains both buprenorphine …
- How do I tell my psychiatrist I disagree with his diagnosis … – Right now, for example, I am on Trazadone, Lithium, Lamictal, Neurontin, Suboxone and a pill that helps with one of the side effects of Suboxone. I have always been wary of this Bipolar diagnosis, and recently, …
- Important Safety Information – Suboxone – If you can read this, then your browser cannot interpret Javascript. To take full advantage of what this Web site has to offer, please make sure that you have Javascript enabled in your browser preferences, or update to a browser that supports Javascript. Listen to patients share, in their own words, how treatment with SUBOXONE Film has helped them work to manage their disease.
