Suboxone® Addiction: Signs, Symptoms, Risks, and Treatment Resources

Suboxone® is a brand name for two drugs found together: buprenorphine and naloxone. It is one of the most commonly-used medications in medication-assisted treatment and is prescribed to help people recover from opioid addictions.

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What is Suboxone®?
Suboxone® Quick Reference Chart
Learn About Specific Suboxone®
Statistics on Suboxone® Use, Misuse, and Addiction
Effects of Suboxone® Abuse
Suboxone® Addiction and Abuse
Cutting Agents Used for Suboxone®
Suboxone® Withdrawal
Suboxone® Withdrawal Management and Addiction Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Additional Suboxone® Addiction Resources

What is Suboxone®?

Suboxone® is a Schedule III narcotic prescribed for the treatment of opioid addiction. Opioids are highly addictive painkillers with uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Suboxone® aims to reduce this discomfort by providing a low dose opioid in its place, similarly stimulating the brain.

Due to its brain and nervous system interactions, Suboxone® can lead to dependence and addiction. In 2019 alone, it was reported that around 700,000 people misused this drug.[1]

Street names for this drug include Boxes, Oranges, Sobos, Stops, and Bupes.

Side Effects of Suboxone®

Some may experience dizziness, nausea, constipation, sweating, confusion, and vomiting. Minor side effects will likely go away on their own.
Many won’t experience any side effects, while others may have severe complications. These include seizures, hallucinations, and heart changes.

If severe side effects arise, seek medical attention right away. More severe side effects may occur when the substance is abused. Mixing the drug with other substances may also worsen side effects.

How is Suboxone® Taken?

Suboxone® is available as a sublingual film. It starts working within 20 to 30 minutes. There are also sublingual tablets that work similarly. Suboxone® misuse involves dissolving the sublingual strips or tablets before injecting them, chewing them, or mixing them with other substances. This allows the drug’s total dosage to be released at once, causing euphoria. The abuse potential is higher when not taken as prescribed.

Suboxone® Quick Reference

Drug Category

Suboxone®

Administration

Sublingual tablets/films

DEA Schedule

Schedule II

Commercial & Street Names

Buprenorphine, naloxone, Boxes, Oranges, Sobos, Stops, Bupes

Learn More About Other Substances

Statistics on Suboxone® Use, Misuse, and Addiction

More than 41% of psychiatrists and 36% of primary care physicians prescribe buprenorphine to their patients.[2] Many people abuse this substance to get more relief. This may temporarily remedy a person’s withdrawal symptoms. However, persistent Suboxone® misuse may cause other problems to arise.

Effects of Suboxone® Abuse

Abusing Suboxone® can lead to weight loss due to a loss of appetite. A person abusing this drug may have an excess of drug paraphernalia. This includes needles, syringes, and powder from crushed pills. The person may have needle marks on their body from injecting the substance. Some may also have an excess of prescriptions from various physicians, and they may no longer be interested in their usual hobbies or work.

Can You Overdose on Suboxone®?

Overdosing is more likely when you abuse the substance or mix it with others. This releases the drug’s total dose into your system immediately, and some who overdose go into a coma. They may experience health complications, such as brain or liver damage. Some may die if their bodies are unable to handle the large dosage.

Death is possible if they do not receive medical treatment in time.

Signs and Symptoms of Suboxone® Overdose

Suboxone® is the most popular opioid treatment choice, even when compared to generic buprenorphine.[3] This wide use and availability make it more likely for people to abuse this drug eventually. Common signs of Suboxone® overdose include the following:

Slow heart rate
Shallow breathing
Fatigue
Coma
Seizures
Death

What to do if you suspect someone is overdosing on Suboxone®?

An overdose is a medical emergency. Call for medical help as soon as possible. Acting fast can also minimize the extent of the overdose’s damage and potentially save a life. Stay with the person until medical help arrives.

Dangers of Long-Term Suboxone® Use

Taking Suboxone® long-term may alter a person’s brain chemistry. You may no longer feel like yourself, and you may feel depressed or anxious. You may have feelings of social isolation, fatigue, nausea, and constipation. Some also struggle to maintain relationships, keep a job, and stay financially stable. Others experience cognitive decline.

Mixing Suboxone® with Other Drugs

Mixing Suboxone® with other substances increases the risk of overdose. Mixing Suboxone® with alcohol is especially dangerous. This makes it likely for a person’s heart rate and breathing to slow. This may send the person into a coma or lead to an overdose, which could be fatal.

Suboxone® Addiction and Abuse

Is Suboxone® Addictive?

Since Suboxone® is a Schedule III drug, it is considered an addictive substance. Yet, it is not as addictive as Schedule II substances, such as opioid painkillers. Yet, it still targets the same regions of the brain as opioids. This may make it an attractive target for those addicted to opioids.

Signs of Addiction to Suboxone®

Those addicted to Suboxone® may have a runny nose, watery or red eyes, and sweaty skin. Some may have swelling in the limbs, headaches, nausea, and vomiting. These signs may get worse the longer an addiction continues. Cravings and behavioral changes may accompany them.

Suboxone® Addiction and Mental Health

Because Suboxone® is designed to stop opioid addictions, people may feel defeated if they become dependent. They may feel that there are no more options for them. This can cause depression and anxiety.

This may also make them angry and lash out at those around them, even their loved ones. Some may also develop suicidal behaviors or thoughts.

When mental health concerns and substance use present together, dual diagnosis treatment is critical for long-term recovery. This holistic approach treats each disorder individually to reduce the risk of relapse and promote lasting recovery.

Cutting Agents Used for Suboxone®

Prescription Suboxone® is not cut with anything. Street Suboxone® may be cut with talcum powder, cornstarch, and other cheap fillers that alter its effects. Some may cut it with opioid medications, benzodiazepines, and similar drugs.

Therapies Used in Suboxone® Addiction Treatment

Therapy plays a substantial role in treatment. You will talk one-on-one with your therapist in private and participate in group therapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy helps you understand negative emotions. You can better understand why you abuse drugs and how you can stop them. It will also teach you about unwanted thoughts and behaviors and how to stop them.

Motivational interviewing is ideal for those with low self-esteem regarding themselves and their decisions. This therapy helps a person build up their confidence and motivation. This can help them overcome their addiction and avoid relapsing.

Family therapy is useful if a patient’s addiction problems are rooted in their family. It is also useful if a person doesn’t feel supported by their loved ones. It can help the family understand how addiction works as well. This therapy can remedy problems between family members and create a more supportive family unit.

Dual Diagnosis for Co-Occurring Disorders

Many people who are addicted to Suboxone® also have anxiety or depression as well as a substance use disorder. Dual diagnosis treatment for substance dependence and mental health issues will offer much better results than only treating one.

Suboxone® Withdrawal Management Treatment

On average, Suboxone® addiction treatment lasts approximately 90 days. Detox is a difficult process, but professional treatment can make it easier and safer. Managing your withdrawal with therapy and medication will set you on the path to success.

Drugs Used in Suboxone® Withdrawal Management

Withdrawal treatment includes slowly weaning off Suboxone® and supplementing with other medications. Clonidine is a common medication used to ease a person’s withdrawal symptoms. This may still cause discomfort, but quitting cold turkey is more dangerous.

Additional Suboxone® Addiction Resources

Sources

NIDA. 2021, October 15. Buprenorphine misuse decreased among U.S. adults with opioid use disorder from 2015-2019. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/2021/10/buprenorphine-misuse-decreased-among-us-adults-with-opioid-use-disorder-from-2015-2019 on 2023, May 17.

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Velander J. R. (2018). Suboxone®: Rationale, Science, Misconceptions. The Ochsner journal, 18(1), 23–29. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5855417/ on May 17, 2023.

02

Ling W. (2012). Buprenorphine implant for opioid addiction. Pain management, 2(4), 345–350. https://doi.org/10.2217/pmt.12.26. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4283787/ on May 17, 2023.

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