Can You Overdose on Suboxone?

Can you overdose on Suboxone? Suboxone is one of the most popular options for treating opioid use disorder (OUD). It’s part of a category of prescription drugs called medications for opioid use disorder (MOUDs) that have been shown to reduce the risk of fatal overdoses by 50%.

In addition to being considered direct lifesaving medications, MOUDs can also help to reduce nonfatal overdoses that can still be medically dangerous and traumatic. With more than 100,000 people dying from drug overdoses each year in the United States, access to Suboxone and other MOUDs is more important than ever. Having clear answers about the potential risks of taking Suboxone is also important.

What Is Suboxone?

Suboxone is created using a combination of two medications called buprenorphine and naloxone. This formulation is notable because only buprenorphine is used to substitute opiates. The naloxone in Suboxone helps to reduce tampering risks.

Suboxone works by binding to the same receptors in the brain as oxycodone, morphine, heroin, and other opiates. However, what makes suboxone effective at helping a person to turn away from drug use is that it doesn’t produce the same “high” as the drugs it’s replacing.

Suboxone’s unique design allows it to override intoxication with other illicit opioids that a person might take. For many people, Suboxone is crucial for keeping cravings under control while returning to a life without substance use.

Can You Overdose on Suboxone?

Yes, it is possible to overdose on Suboxone, though it is less common compared to other opioids due to its unique pharmacological properties. Suboxone is a medication used to treat opioid addiction and contains two active ingredients: buprenorphine (a partial opioid agonist) and naloxone (an opioid antagonist). While Suboxone has a ceiling effect, meaning its opioid effects level off at higher doses, misuse or combining it with other substances can lead to overdose.

Signs and Symptoms of Suboxone Overdose (OD)

Unfortunately, it is possible to overdose on suboxone. The most common cause of Suboxone overdose is taking more than the prescribed amount. Signs that a person has overdosed on Suboxone include:

• Stomach or abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Intense emotions, mood swings, anxiety, or irritability
• The appearance of being heavily intoxicated
• Loss of balance and coordination
• Sleepiness
• Slurred speech
• Blurry vision
• Tremors
• Slow heart rate
• Seizure

What to Do During a Suboxone Overdose? 

A person who has overdosed on Suboxone will become unconscious. However, signs and symptoms are usually obvious while the person is still alert. Getting help during the window before consciousness is lost can be pivotal for saving a person’s life. A suspected Suboxone overdose should be considered a medical emergency. Call 911 or seek emergency care immediately.

Drug Interactions with Suboxone

Taking other medications that are known to interact with Suboxone can increase side effects and symptoms to a dangerous point. This is why Suboxone should only be taken under the supervision of a doctor with access to your full medical history.

Do not begin taking a new medication that hasn’t been approved by your doctor for any reason while undergoing Suboxone treatment. Drug interactions can occur when taking benzodiazepines, opioids, sedatives, antihistamines, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, antipsychotics, CYP3A4 inducers and inhibitors, some antidepressants, and some migraine medications.

Opioid Intolerance

In rare cases, people who take Suboxone may be able to get a “high” from the medication even when dosing it properly under a doctor’s supervision. While it is assumed that people who have struggled with opioid addiction have a high tolerance, it’s possible that a person who has not built up a tolerance specifically to Suboxone could experience euphoric symptoms that cause them to get drawn into cravings and drug-seeking behaviors. This could result in the person increasing Suboxone ingestion to the point of overdose. Research shows that overdose mortality risks associated with buprenorphine are extremely low.

Ceiling Effect of Suboxone

Care providers who prescribe Suboxone are aware of the Suboxone ceiling effect. The ceiling effect applies to any drugs that cannot intoxicate people when taken in large doses. In the case of Suboxone, the ceiling effect means that this medication will produce euphoria only up to a certain point when taken appropriately. Once the “ceiling” has been reached, there’s no gain in taking more. The benefit of the ceiling effect is that people struggling with addiction are less likely to try to take more of the medication because attempts to become more intoxicated are futile. In addition to reducing addiction-seeking behaviors, the ceiling effect can also prevent life-threatening overdoses. The ceiling effect of Suboxone can be diminished when it is taken with any of the medications mentioned above on the list of drug interactions. Sedative medications are especially worrisome for decreasing the ceiling effect.