Combining Suboxone with Other Drugs

Many have seen suboxone as a wonder drug that helps save the lives of opioid addicts. This drug helps in the recovery process of those addicted to opioid drugs such as the prescription pain medications, Vicodin, codeine, morphine and OxyContin. They can also be addicted to Heroin, which is an illegal drug. These drugs help block out pain through the nervous system and give off a sense of euphoria and being in control of oneself. Once hooked on these drugs, withdrawal symptoms make it very difficult for people to just quit and move on. In some cases, people try combining suboxone with the drugs they’re trying to detox. However, this is dangerous and defeats the purpose of using suboxone to detox in the first place.

What is Suboxone?

This miracle drug was created as an agent of recovery from opioid addiction. It is a combination drug that has anti-opioid ingredients. There is buprenorphine that is an opioid and naloxone a narcotic. These work hand in hand to completely eliminate withdrawal symptoms and curb cravings for the drugs. One can undergo the suboxone detox treatment taking specific doses and tapering off with time so they can come out on the other end having experienced very little of the withdrawal symptoms that come with quitting opioids. However it is treatment that is recommended to go together with therapy and having a good support group.

Combining Suboxone with Methadone

These two drugs are both used when treating a person who is addicted to opioids. Methadone is used when treating withdrawal symptoms from opioids and it is also a pain reliever. It’s important to understand the two drugs before taking them on. It can be dangerous to use both drugs because if you don’t use them the right way you could go through severe pain and withdrawal. It is said that taking methadone after taking suboxone should not have any adverse reactions. This is because suboxone is powerful enough to block the effects of methadone on the nervous system. However it is not advisable to take suboxone after having taken methadone. It will cause precipitated withdrawal, which is worse that the withdrawal symptoms one has after discontinuing opioids. It is said that suboxone will disintegrate from the opiate receptors and cause an immediate reaction that will send patient into immediate withdrawal that will have to have them admitted into hospital and treated for the severity of it.

Combining Suboxone and Oxycodone

Oxycodone is an opioid used to treat pain from mild to chronic. It is a highly addictive drug that once addicted one would need to use suboxone to detox and not go through the withdrawal symptoms that come with it. Mixing oxycodone with suboxone is almost the same as replacing one opioid with another. The buprenorphine that is one of the ingredients of suboxone is an opioid. If taken after oxycodone it will immediately take the place of the oxycodone on the opiate receptors. Once this interaction takes place the person will go into immediate precipitated withdrawal. Normally when one is using suboxone to detox from an opioid they have to wait at twelve hours after their last opioid dose to take their first dose of suboxone. It is more effective this way when mild withdrawal symptoms begin because it completely shuts down the symptoms within four to six hours. However if taken immediately after a dose of oxycodone then withdrawal symptoms will be severe and will appear immediately. The symptoms too will be very severe on the body. In most cases one will have to seek treatment.

Combining Suboxone and Hydrocodone

Hydrocodone is another opioid drug that is used in long term care. It is a pain reliever for individuals suffering from chronic pain.With extended use, it is highly addictive. Once an individual is addicted to the drug, they might mix it with suboxone. In turn, they’ll also go into severe instant withdrawal that will leave them wishing they had never taken any form of drugs. This the same with any other opioids. There is no way but to then endure the excruciating pain of instantaneous withdrawal. The symptoms individuals experience after combining suboxone and opioids such as oxycodone and hydrocodone include, insomnia, a fever, increased heart rate, hyperventilating, hot and cold flashes, cramping and muscle aches. There is also the typical opioid withdrawal symptoms such as runny nose, runny tummy, vomiting, and tearing up. Once an individual begins to experience the symptoms, it is important they see a doctor immediately. This can help save one’s life so that the doctors cannot create more problems by adding more on top of an already messed up drug situation.

Find Recovery with Gallus Detox Centers

The support of family and friends goes a long way in treating drug addiction. Therefore, it’s important that people do not take medication without understanding the effects of its interactions with other drugs. At Gallus Detox Centers, our professionals with help you and your family gain a better understanding of addiction and how to recover through our addiction detox programs and addiction therapy services such as:

• Safe suboxone detox program
• IV therapy medical detox
• Methadone detox program
• Hydrocodone detox program
• Oyxcodone detox program

For more information on a treatment program right for you or your loved one, please reach out to us now.

Shannon Weir, RN

Shannon Weir, RN is the Chief Nursing Officer at Gallus Medical Detox Centers. She has been a Registered Nurse for 30 years, Shannon’s experience ranges from critical care to flight nursing, medical detox, sexual assault exams, and SWAT nursing. Shannon has been with Gallus Medical Detox Centers since 2010 and is a vital part of our organization.