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Buprenorphine Suboxone and Subutex
Patient Education for Suboxone (Buprenorphine/Naloxone)

Patient Education for Suboxone (Buprenorphine/Naloxone)

Patient education and FAQs for individuals prescribed Suboxone

This article includes educational information on Suboxone and answers to common questions. This should be reviewed by patients on Suboxone.

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone film is a prescription medicine used to treat opioid addiction. It contains the active ingredients buprenorphine and naloxone. Suboxone is a controlled substance (CIII) because it has moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. 

Suboxone Storage

Keep SUBOXONE Sublingual Film in a secure place out of sight and reach of children, and in a location not accessible by others, including visitors to the home.

Accidental use by a child is a medical emergency and can result in death. If a child accidentally takes Suboxone call 911 and get emergency help right away. Tell your healthcare provider if you are living in a household where there are small children.

Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.

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Do not take Suboxone if...

You should not take Suboxone if you are allergic to buprenorphine or naloxone, as serious negative effects, including anaphylactic shock, have been reported.

Do not take Suboxone before the effects of other opioids (e.g., heroin, hydrocodone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone) have started to wear off and you are experiencing moderate withdrawal symptoms, otherwise you may experience immediate precipitated withdrawal symptoms.

Suboxone may not be right for you. Before taking Suboxone, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including:

  • Liver or kidney problems
  • Trouble breathing or lung problems
  • An enlarged prostate gland (men)
  • A head injury or brain problem
  • Problems urinating
  • A curve in your spine that affects your breathing (scoliosis)
  • Gallbladder problems
  • Adrenal gland problems
  • Addison’s disease
  • Low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism)
  • A history of alcoholism
  • Mental problems such as hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there)
  • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Opioid-dependent women on buprenorphine maintenance therapy may require additional analgesia during labor. If you take Suboxone while pregnant, your baby may have signs of opioid withdrawal at birth. Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) is an expected and treatable outcome of prolonged use of opioids during pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
  • Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. The active ingredients of Suboxone Film can pass into your milk and may harm your baby. Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during treatment with Suboxone Film. Watch your baby for increased drowsiness and breathing problems.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.

Suboxone may affect the way other medicines work and other medicines may affect how Suboxone works.

Some medicines may cause serious or life-threatening medical problems when taken with Suboxone.

Sometimes the doses of certain medicines may need to be changed if used together.

Do not take any medicine while using Suboxone until you have talked with your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will tell you if it is safe to take other medicines while you are taking Suboxone.

Be especially careful about taking other medicines that may make you sleepy, such as pain medicines, tranquilizers, antidepressant medicines, sleeping pills, anxiety medicines or antihistamines while using Suboxone until you have talked with your healthcare provider.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine.

What should I avoid while taking Suboxone?

  • Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or perform any other dangerous activities until you know how this medicine affects you. Buprenorphine can cause drowsiness and slow reaction times. This may happen more often in the first few weeks of treatment when your dose is being changed, but can also happen if you drink alcohol or take other sedative drugs when you take Suboxone.
  • You should not drink alcohol while using Suboxone, as this can lead to loss of consciousness or even death.

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What are the possible side effects of Suboxone?

SUBOXONE Film can cause serious side effects, including:

  • Respiratory problems. You have a higher risk of death and coma if you take Suboxone with other medicines, such as benzodiazepines.
  • Sleepiness, dizziness, and problems with coordination.
  • Dependency or abuse. Suboxone can be abused in a manner similar to other opioids, legal or illicit.
  • Liver problems. Call your healthcare provider right away if you notice any of these signs of liver problems:
  • your skin or the white part of your eyes turning yellow (jaundice)
  • urine turning dark
  • stools turning light in color
  • you have less of an appetite
  • you have stomach (abdomen) pain or nausea
  • Your healthcare provider should do tests before you start taking and while you take SUBOXONE Film.
  • Allergic reaction. You may have a rash, hives, swelling of the face, wheezing, or a loss of blood pressure and consciousness. Call a healthcare provider or get emergency help right away.
  • Opioid withdrawal. This can include: shaking, sweating more than normal, feeling hot or cold more than normal, runny nose, watery eyes, goose bumps, diarrhea, vomiting and muscle aches. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any of these symptoms
  • Decrease in blood pressure. You may feel dizzy if you get up too fast from sitting or lying down.

Common side effects of SUBOXONE Film include:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • drug withdrawal syndrome
  • headache
  • sweating
  • numb mouth
  • constipation
  • swollen and/or painful tongue
  • the inside of your mouth is more red than normal
  • intoxication (feeling lightheaded or drunk)
  • disturbance in attention
  • irregular heart beat (palpitations)
  • decrease in sleep (insomnia)
  • blurred vision
  • back pain
  • fainting
  • dizziness
  • sleepiness

Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Long-term (chronic) use of opioids, including Suboxone, may cause fertility problems in males and females. Talk to your healthcare provider if this is a concern for you.

These are not all the possible side effects. Contact your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. In the case of an emergency call 911 or seek immediate medical attention.

This article has been medically reviewed by
Erin Hillers
Erin Hillers
Erin Hillers
Nurse Practitioner

Erin is a Nurse Practitioner with 8 years of experience in midwifery and women's health. She has spent the past 5 years specializing in the treatment of opioid and alcohol use disorders.

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