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For Providers

• During this time, the patient will be monitored, and they may be prescribed a sedative.
• Whether you’re struggling with alcohol addiction, opioid use disorder, or both, getting the proper treatment is crucial.
• This would be a game-changer, potentially making Suboxone more accessible to those struggling with alcohol addiction.
• If individuals prescribed Suboxone relapse and begin drinking alcohol, they could suffer serious consequences.
• Our science-backed approach boasts 95% of patients reporting no withdrawal symptoms at 7 days.
• Suboxone, a medication commonly used to treat opioid addiction, is now being explored as a potential treatment for alcoholism.

Last year, we expanded our services to include robust mental health services, new locations, and specialized services for our nation’s veterans with more to come this year! Yes, there are some potential side effects of using Suboxone to treat alcoholism. These may include headaches, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, constipation, and dry mouth. Additionally, there is the potential for abuse and dependence on Suboxone, so it is important to use only as directed by a healthcare provider.

The combination can help people deal with the psychological aspects of AUD and provide emotional support while they are beginning and continuing the recovery process. Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) is one of the most promising areas of treatment for substance use disorders. It is a “whole-person” approach that includes FDA-approved medications, counseling, and behavioral therapies. Suboxone was specifically designed to help people addicted to opioids and is not FDA-approved for any other purpose. It can only be prescribed by doctors or other approved health providers who have received training and certification from the US federal government.

Does suboxone help with alcohol withdrawal?

Some people may do well with brief interventions, for example, while others may need more intense behavioral treatments, medication, or both, says Leggio. Unfortunately, these medications are currently quite expensive, and insurance will not cover their use for AUD,” Schacht says. He adds that enrolling in a clinical trial could be another way to access these drugs for AUD.

However, it is important to note that Suboxone is not a cure for alcoholism and must be used with caution. It has been found to reduce cravings for alcohol and decrease the amount of time it takes for alcoholics to become sober. However, it is important to note that Suboxone should be combined with other treatments, such as counseling and support groups, in order to be most effective.

Understanding Alcohol Addiction

One of the critical issues in addiction treatment is polysubstance dependence—when someone is dependent on more than one substance at the same time. If a person with an alcohol use disorder begins using Suboxone without proper medical supervision, they might inadvertently become dependent on opioids or partial opioid agonists. This creates a more complex treatment scenario, complicating recovery and increasing health risks. The misconception often arises from the fact that Suboxone helps minimize cravings—for opioids. This leads some to believe it could also help with alcohol cravings or withdrawal symptoms. However, the pharmacological action of Suboxone is specific to opioid receptors in the brain.

When prescribed and monitored by a healthcare provider, Suboxone can be used safely for co-occurring opioid and alcohol addiction. If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol addiction, reaching out to a Southeastern Recovery Center can help you explore the best treatment options tailored to your specific needs. Silver Pines and Steps to Recovery have provided addiction recovery programs in Pennsylvania for over a decade with detox, residential, outpatient, and sober living services.

This helps them deal with underlying issues related to their drinking, as well as learn tools to help deal with cravings and other triggers. If you are someone you know is experiencing severe alcohol withdrawal, you should contact a medical professional immediately. Because alcoholism can vary so much from patient to patient, the treatment methods used can vary as well. Ongoing research and clinical trials are digging deeper into the effectiveness of Suboxone for alcohol addiction. These studies are looking at everything from optimal dosing strategies to long-term outcomes.

Does Suboxone Help With Alcohol Cravings?

Researchers don’t yet understand exactly how GLP-1 drugs work for AUD, according to Dr. Leggio. “Scientific evidence suggests that these mechanisms may be at least partially overlapping with those regulating food craving and food seeking,” he says. A high level of CNS depression can result in coma, delirium or even death. In addition to Suboxone, other FDA-approved medications can help manage AUD. For these reasons, patients undergoing Suboxone treatment are advised to avoid alcohol entirely.

Some studies even show moderately high rates of opioid relapse following prescribed regimens of Suboxone-related medication (O’Brien, 2005). Some users will even use alcohol in an attempt to strengthen the weaker effects of Suboxone. This is a risky practice, as the combination of the two drugs can produce significant dangers. Long-term medications for alcohol withdrawal are used to help people stay off alcohol after they’ve gotten through the initial detox phase. These medications are usually started once detox is complete and the alcohol is out of the person’s system. The goal is to reduce cravings and help the brain adjust to functioning without alcohol.

This causes your body to have a strong negative reaction shortly after drinking. Recovery isn’t a straight line, and what works today might need tweaking tomorrow. It’s all about staying flexible and responsive to each person’s needs.

What Do Alcohol Treatment Recovery Programs Do?

Suboxone is part of a harm-reduction strategy for people grappling with opioid addiction. It helps stabilize individuals and allows them to focus on behavioral therapies, counseling, and other recovery-related activities without being overwhelmed by intense withdrawal symptoms. Addiction experts say the safest place to manage withdrawal is a certified alcohol detox center.

For patients

But the opportunity to help more people overcome addiction could be worth the hurdles. In the meantime, some doctors are already using Suboxone off-label to treat alcohol addiction. Off-label use means prescribing a medication for a purpose other than what it’s officially approved for.

Research on GLP-1 drugs for AUD and other substance use issues has gained momentum is suboxone used for alcoholism in recent years. In extreme cases such as overdose, there is an increased risk of alcohol poisoning, coma and death (Dart et al., 2015). If an individual is suspected to have overdosed on Suboxone or is showing symptoms like those listed above, then they must be transported to a hospital immediately. Untreated reactions between Suboxone and significant quantities of alcohol can be fatal.