Suboxone: For Pain, Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Interactions, Warning

What Is Suboxone?

Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone) is a combination of two opioid receptor antagonists used in the maintenance treatment of opioid addiction.

What Are Side Effects for Suboxone?

Suboxone may cause serious side effects including:

• weak or shallow breathing,
• breathing that stops during sleep,
• confusion,
• loss of coordination,
• extreme weakness,
• blurred vision,
• slurred speech,
• upper stomach pain,
• loss of appetite,
• dark urine,
• clay-colored stools,
• yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice),
• nausea,
• dizziness,
• worsening tiredness or weakness,
• shivering,
• goose bumps,
• increased sweating,
• feeling hot or cold,
• runny nose,
• watery eyes,
• diarrhea, and
• muscle pain

Get medical help right away, if you have any of the symptoms listed above.

Side effects of Suboxone include:

• mouth numbness,
• mouth redness,
• mouth pain,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• numbness or tingling,
• drowsiness,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• stomach pain,
• vomiting,
• constipation,
• feeling drunk, or
• trouble concentrating.

Get medical help right away if you have serious side effects of Suboxone including:

• fainting,
• fast or irregular heartbeat,
• severe dizziness,
• mental/mood changes (such as agitation, confusion, hallucinations),
• slow or shallow breathing,
• unusual drowsiness, or
• difficulty waking up.

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
• Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in your chest; shortness of breath; and sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, or passing out;
• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors.

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

Dosage for Suboxone

Suboxone is intended for sublingual administration and is available in two dosage strengths:

• 2 mg buprenorphine with 0.5 mg naloxone, and
• 8 mg buprenorphine with 2 mg naloxone

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Suboxone?

Suboxone may interact with other drugs including:

• benzodiazepines,
• erythromycin,
• rifampin, and
• HIV protease inhibitors

Buprenorphine and naloxone may dangerously increase the effects of other drugs that cause drowsiness.

Suboxone During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Neonatal withdrawal has been reported in the infants of women treated with buprenorphine during pregnancy. Breastfeeding is not advised in mothers treated with buprenorphine products as it is known to pass into breast milk.

Additional Information

Our Suboxone Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.