How Fast Does Snorting Suboxone Kick In​?

Snorting Suboxone can get buprenorphine/Naloxone in your system within 20 minutes, but it does not get you high. Instead, it activates Naloxone which displaces opioids, including Buprenorphine, from opioid receptors creating a precipitated withdrawal. Taking Suboxone according to the prescription is important to curb opioid cravings and manage withdrawal symptoms. Contact our emergency Suboxone doctors today to learn the right use of the medicine and achieve recovery asap 844.445.2565.

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Highlights

• Suboxone should be taken orally by placing it under the tongue or inside the cheek
• Suboxone is snorted to get euphoria or manage the pain instantly 
• Misusing Suboxone can result in rapid onset of opioid withdrawal symptoms
• You can experience nosebleeds, anxiety, and rapid due to snorting
• It’s important to seek help if you find your loved one misusing Suboxone

Suboxone’s Route Of Administration 

Suboxone is a sublingual medication prescribed for treating opioid use disorder. The right way to take Suboxone is orally by placing it under the tongue or inside the cheek. However, 30% of people prescribed Buprenorphine/Naloxone are reported snorting the medication. Here is how it is snorted:

1. Crushing the Suboxone orange pills or white tablets 
2. Melting the film
3. Converting it into the powder
4. Insufflating the powder through the nose

This allows the Suboxone to enter the bloodstream quicker than it would through oral ingestion. 

Why Do People Snort Suboxone?

Although Suboxone blocks the opioids, Buprenorphine in Suboxone carries an abuse potential which means you can get addicted to it, leading people to misuse the drug.  People can snort Suboxone:

• To get quick Euphoria
• To have faster results 
• In hopes of keeping the withdrawal symptoms to minimal
• Use Suboxone for pain management since it is an opioid

How Fast Does Snorting Suboxone Kick In?

When taken orally, it can take about 20–60 minutes for Suboxone to enter the bloodstream through ingestion and reach the brain to start working. However, with snorted Suboxone, the Buprenorphine/Naloxone enters your bloodstream directly through inhalation, which allows it to kick in less than 20 minutes. 

Does Snorting Suboxone Have Better Bioavailability?

Snorting Suboxone leads to an increased absorption for both, Buprenorphine and Naloxone. 

Absorption rates after snoring:

• Buprenorphine= (~38–44%) 
• Naloxone= (~24–30%)

This increase in bioavailability should give you generally a high, but the plot twist is Naloxone is a misuse deterrent. The increase in Naloxone’s bioavailability activates it, which leads to the following course of events: 

• Naloxone blocks the opioid receptors
• This removes all opioids (fentanyl, heroin, buprenorphine, etc) from the receptors
• The opioid receptors become unstable
• This results in precipitated opioid withdrawal symptoms within the first hour which produce intense yet rapid effects

What Are The Side Effects Of Snorting Suboxone?

Here are some of the side effects of Suboxone resulting from precipitated opioid withdrawal:

Physical Dangers of Snorting Suboxone

• Body aches
• Nausea
• Diarrhea and Vomiting
• Rapid heart rate
• Disturbed sleeping patterns
• Dilated pupil

Other than the precipitated withdrawal, insufflation itself can have some deleterious effects on your nose and airway, such as:

• Burning sensation in the nose
• Nose bleeding
• Sinus infections
• Damage to the nose tissues
• Dry mouth 
• Breathing difficulties

Effects of Suboxone Misuse on Mental Health

Missing Suboxone in high doses or taking it with other opioids for a long time can translate into severe psychological effects, including:

• Depression
• Suicidal thoughts
• Anxiety 

Signs Someone Is Misusing Suboxone

Recognizing these signs can you determine if your loved one needs help: 

• Consuming large doses of Suboxone
• Frequently nosebleeds
• A damaged nose
• Trading Suboxone with others
• Sudden change in social interaction
• Possessing razors or rolled paper to snort medication

Free Addiction Assessment

Please note this assessment is an initial self-screening, and it is not meant to be a medical assessment or clinical diagnosis of addiction. For proper diagnosis and treatment, schedule an appointment with ChoicePoint.

Seeking Help For Suboxone Misuse

The number one step in looking for help for the misuse is treating the effects of precipitated withdrawal and nose damage. It’s important to contact an online suboxone doctor in NJ if you are snorting Suboxone.

A. Undergo a Quick Evaluation

You will be asked to undergo a quick evaluation to understand the reasons that prompted you to snort Suboxone. This may also involve considering the following factors:

• Your substance abuse history
• Presence of co-occurring mental health issues
• Involvement in polydrug abuse
• Your environment
• Your family dynamics.

B. Take Medications Through Medication Assisted Treatment 

The very first step of treating Suboxone misuse is stabilizing the opioid receptors and making the withdrawal symptoms less intense. This requires getting an instant Buprenorphine tablet (Subutex Orange Pill) or Buprenorphine injection As a partial opioid agonist, it will make the opioid receptors stable enough to provide you relief from body aches, vomiting, and other signs.

C. Heal Your Nose

For mild injury to your nose as of now, try moisturizing your nose with one of the following three methods to heal your nose after snorting:

1. Coconut Oil
2. Rinse through saline solution
3. Massage your nose with petroleum jelly

In the case of a perforated septum, you might have to undergo a surgical intervention depending on the complication.

D. Receive Education Counseling

Counseling involves educating Suboxone users on the adverse effects of misuse, the consequences of addiction, and the importance of starting early treatment. You can get these education sessions via:

• Videos
• Lectures

E. Get Behavioral Therapy 

Counseling is often combined with behavior therapies to help you address maladaptive behavior relating to the misuse of medicines. You will work with a behavior therapist in NJ to learn to recognize your triggers and control your cravings. While there are several options that you can receive, some of the common therapies to reverse your dysfunctional thoughts are: 

• CBT Group Activities
• Dialectical behavior techniques 
• Group therapy
• Family therapy

F. Treat Mental and Substance Use Disorders 

Research suggests that people going through anxiety, ADHD or other mental issues often abuse drugs to self-medicate them. Our patients often ask if they can take Adderall and Suboxone on the same day. People often as Treating the effects of substance abuse while overlooking the underlying mental disorders can halt your recovery. With dual diagnosis and CBT exercises for ADHD, you can get psychological issues and physical symptoms treated at the same time. 

G. Join Support Group

Support groups help you overcome loneliness and realize that you are not alone in this journey. Whether you have just started snorting Suboxone or have been on it for a few years, you will people to who you can relate. These groups might not be conventional treatments, but they are effective in helping you:

• Completing MAT and therapy
• Providing you motivation 
• Learning strategies to control your cravings 

Overcome Suboxone Addiction

How ChoicePoint in NJ Can Help You?

ChociePoint provides in-person services in Fair Lawn and free online suboxone doctor consultations throughout New Jersey. We can help you:

• Deal with Suboxone withdrawal symptoms
• Address physical symptoms of drug misuse
• Provide counseling to maintain abstinence
• Offer therapy sessions to curb cravings
• Getting Suboxone prescribed same day
• Online Suboxone Doctors That Accept Medicaid

Whether you need to enter an IOP in Bergen County or start an IOP program in Fair Lawn, we are always here to help. You can start your treatment today by calling us at 844.445.2565.

Frequently Asked Questions About Snorting Suboxone 

Snorting Suboxone is a sign of drug misuse and an indication of a history of substance abuse. It’s important to understand its repercussions to take action.

Why Snorting Suboxone Strip Is Not Advisable?

Snorting Suboxone strip will activate Naloxone which can result in abrupt yet intense opioid withdrawals including: 

• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea
• Increased sweating
• Elevated blood pressure
• Chest pain
• Insomnia 
• Depression
• Anxiety 

Does Snorting Suboxone Get You High?

No, abusing Suboxone by snorting it won’t get you high. Suboxone consists of Buprenorphine and naloxone as active ingredients. Buprenorphine being a partial opioid agonist can get you high if you are encountering opioids for the first time. However, Suboxone is prescribed for sublingual use only, and misusing it, such as snorting it, can activate Naloxone. Naloxone will displace buprenorphine from the opioid receptors, resulting in rapid opioid withdrawal symptoms.

​Does Snorting Suboxone Make It Harder To Quit?​

Suboxone snort will not get you euphoria or the high, but it can make your withdrawal from opioids an uncomfortable process, resulting in depression, extreme muscle cramps, and insomnia. This intense withdrawal can make you go back to the opioids and may even result in a relapse. 

How Soon Can You Take Suboxone After Snorting Heroin?

You can start the Suboxone treatment within 7–10 days of your last use of the heroin. If you have been snorting heroin for a long period and have developed a dependence on it, then you will likely be prescribed Suboxone to help you with heroin detox and cravings. 

How Long After Taking Suboxone Can I Drink?

You should not drink alcohol when taking Suboxone. Both Suboxone and alcohol are sedating substances and taking them together can result in intoxication. It is generally recommended to at least wait for half hour to eat or drink to allow Suboxone to get absorbed. 

References

1. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2016. Intranasal Buprenorphine Alone and in Combination with Naloxone: Abuse Liability and Reinforcing Efficacy in Physically Dependent Opioid Abusers
   https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4833536/
2. National Center For Biotechnology Information. 2025. Buprenorphine and Naloxone
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK603725/
3. National Institutes on Drug Abuse (US). 2020. Common Comorbidities with Substance Use Disorders Research Report
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK571451/