7 Warning Signs of Suboxone Abuse

Abuse of Suboxone starts with the urge to feel the mild euphoria that comes after opioid use disorder. Although it is meant to be used in therapeutic interventions, its dependent-forming and addictive nature leads to problematic signs of suboxone misuse that could also lead to suboxone overdose. 

If you think that your current Suboxone dosage may lead to abuse, get help from our certified suboxone doctors at ChoicePoint. As Suboxone has a lower potential for abuse than full opioids, and true “abuse” is less common when used as prescribed. Call 844.445.2565 us today to discuss your concerns!

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7 Warning Signs of Suboxone Abuse: How to Tell If You Have It

Suboxone is a two-edged sword that combines two different drugs, i.e., buprenorphine and naloxone. Naloxone blocks opioid receptors when it is not used sublingually, reversing the purpose of buprenorphine. Addiction to Suboxone happens before you even realize it. It may vary from one person to another, but usually, within 7-10 days, people become tolerant to Suboxone. Misusing it regularly may cause addiction in a few weeks.

Here are the signs of Suboxone abuse to look for:

1. Snorting Suboxone or injecting it after crushing the suboxone round orange pill in larger quantities to feel the suboxone abuse high.
2. Showing risky behaviors, such as lying or stealing money to obtain the drug illegally, results in financial and legal troubles.
3. Feeling tired all the time.
4. Unusual weight drop 
5. Intense and sudden changes in emotional state.
6. Using others’ prescriptions to get Suboxone or obsessing over acquiring additional doses of the drug. 
7. Mixing Suboxone and adderall, Suboxone and alcohol, Suboxone and muscle relaxers, or with other substances to intensify the effects.

Symptoms & Long-term Effects of Suboxone Abuse

Taking this medication brings about pleasurable effects, such as pain relief, mild euphoria, reduced stress, and relaxation. These effects may act as a driver to take higher doses of Suboxone in non-administered methods (crushing, injecting), gradually leading to suboxone dependency. Suboxone dependence has the following long-term effects:

15 Noticed Long-term Side Effects 

1. Disorientation
2. Gut issues
3. Reduced pain tolerance
4. Chronic constipation
5. Depression and anxiety
6. Irregular heart rate
7. Nausea
8. Slurred speech
9. Hair loss
10. Watery eyes
11. Constricted pupils
12. Loss of libido
13. Unusual response to stressful situations (for instance, apathetic behaviour)
14. Memory issues
15. Sweating

7 Symptoms of Long-term Suboxone Abuse 

If you are showing the signs of Suboxone abuse, you should watch out for the following symptoms as well:

1. Itchiness
2. Diarrhea
3. Difficulty to focus
4. Slurred speech
5. Muscle pain
6. Cravings
7. Lack of control of muscles & trembling

9 Dangers of Overdose If You Abuse Suboxone

Although it is not common to overdose on Suboxone, it is still possible if you abuse suboxone. While it is highly effective1 for opioid use disorder, when taken without medical supervision, it may only bring harm. Suboxone’s dangers of overdosing can be similar to opioids:

1. Coma
2. Lack of mental clarity
3. Mouth and nail discoloration
4. Skin turning cold
5. Feeling weakness in the body
6. Falling asleep
7. Constricted pupils
8. Respiratory depression
9. Retching or choking

If you are showing overdose symptoms, seek Suboxone overdose treatment immediately.

Facts About Suboxone Abuse

4 Effective Strategies to Wean Off Suboxone Safely

To taper off Suboxone, follow these strategies:

1. Reduce the Dosage

Consider consulting your online suboxone doctor, who can help you slowly decrease the dosage until you stop taking it completely. The phasing-out process should be slow. You need to wait as the body adjusts to the current doses without suboxone withdrawal symptoms.

2. Switch to Non-opioid Medications

Ask your care provider for other supportive medications to minimize the opioid withdrawal symptoms.

3. Stabilize Mental Health

 Medication with behavioural therapies2 may be effective in managing signs of suboxone abuse. Therefore, doctors recommend group therapy programs like CBT group activities, and individual therapy to help manage triggers.

4. Seek Medical Supervision

Getting off Suboxone is not a race. Sometimes, the signs of suboxone abuse are too overwhelming to be handled alone. In such cases, you shouldn’t feel embarrassed about accepting assistance from a rehabilitation center. At ChoicePoint, we have online suboxone doctors that accept Medicaid and other commercial plans to help you remain sober in a comfortable setting without fretting about financial constraints.

Getting a Medically Supervised Suboxone Prescription Plan For OUD to Prevent Suboxone Abuse

Trying to self-medicate OUD, not reaching out to suboxone doctors, may lead to trading one addiction with another. To avoid the dangerous signs of suboxone abuse, it is important to communicate your struggles with suboxone doctors openly. They will:

• Assess your medical history.
• Evaluate your opioid withdrawal symptoms.
• Same-day suboxone treatment by recommending the right dose with an online prescription.

Get help for determining the optimal dose of Suboxone to get rid of withdrawal symptoms of opioid abuse today! Book an appointment and directly consult your online suboxone doctors in NJ or call 844.445.2565 for more information. 

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Frequently Asked Questions Related to Suboxone Drug Abuse

The following are some of your frequently asked questions on suboxone abuse potential, Suboxone side effects, and the aftermath.

1. How do you abuse Suboxone? Take three 8 mg strips, or what?

The general suboxone dosage guide suggests limiting buprenorphine use to 24 mg.3 A provider may suggest taking up to 32 mg in specific cases. But, normally, the average dose remains 16 mg per day. 

2. How long until the body adjusts to Suboxone and side effects cease?

Suboxone doses need to be adjusted until you find the one ideal for an individual, which takes a few days. Whether you take Suboxone for kratom withdrawal or any opioid, the dosage should be right. That is because persistent cravings, lethargy, anxiety, insomnia, and irritability are signs suboxone dose is too low.

3. Do most Suboxone patients not realize they’re taking an opioid?

If someone is taking Suboxone to treat OUD, there are high chances of them being well aware that it is an opioid. For quick assessment, call us at 844.445.2565.

4. How many days in a row would I have to take Suboxone to get physically addicted to it?

Suboxone strip abuse can get you addicted in only a few weeks. The addiction timeline may not be the same for everyone. For specific questions, such as are suboxone strips stronger than the pills, seek help from doctors who prescribe Suboxone near me.

5. Can people get off of Suboxone without going through bad withdrawal?

To get off it, you need to keep lowering the Suboxone doses over time to prevent unpleasant signs.

References 

1. Shulman M, Wai JM, Nunes EV. Buprenorphine Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: An Overview. CNS drugs [Internet]. 2019;33(6):567–80. Available from:
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6585403/
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Principles of drug addiction treatment: A research-based guide (Third Edition) [Internet]. 2014 Jan. Available from:
   https://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/podat-3rdEd-508.pdf
3. Hillhouse M, Canamar CP, Geetha Doraimani, Thomas C, Hasson A, Ling W. Participant Characteristics and Buprenorphine Dose. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 2011 Aug 22;37(5):453–9.
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3272773/