Can you get high on Suboxone? Although it’s possible to become high on any opioid, Suboxone has been specifically formulated to make this highly unlikely. To understand why this is so, you must first understand something about the two drugs that make up the medication known by its trade name, Suboxone.
What is Suboxone?
Suboxone has two active drug ingredients: buprenorphine, a semi-synthetic, partial agonist narcotic and naloxone, an opioid overdose rescue drug. Opioids are either full or partial agonists. This means that they activate the brain’s opioid receptors fully or partially. Buprenorphine is an opioid, but it’s only a partial one. It can activate the brain’s mu opioid receptor, but not as completely as other full narcotics, such as oxycodone, morphine or fentanyl.
Partial and Full Narcotics
Both partial and full-agonist opioids work in the brain in the same way. They both target the brain’s opioid receptors: the mu, the delta and the kappa. The mu is most closely associated with pain relief, sedation and overdose. The body also produces its own opioid-like chemicals known as endorphins. Endorphins work on the same opioid receptors to produce pain relief and mood elevation, but they are far weaker than pharmaceutical narcotics.
Partial agonist opioids like buprenorphine tend to produce limited euphoria even when taken alone. However, Suboxone also contains naloxone, most commonly known by its trade name Narcan. Naloxone acts as a reversal drug for opioids. That’s why it’s used to treat opioid overdose, and it does this very well. It has saved the lives of many opioid overdose victims. Naloxone is included in Suboxone to prevent intravenous abuse of the buprenorphine.
When Suboxone is taken by mouth as directed, the naloxone component isn’t very active at all. However, if the medication is dissolved in water and injected, the naloxone will become active, block the brain’s opioid receptors and absolutely prevent any kind of high. Worse, for a person addicted to opioids and therefore physically dependent on them, the injected naloxone will cause an immediate and full-blown withdrawal reaction untreatable by anything but time. The person will become extremely sick and will remain so for up to several hours until the naloxone finally wears off.
Do Addicts Get High on Suboxone?
Addicts are well aware of this and don’t even try to get high on Suboxone. They know better. They also know that their high opioid tolerance will prevent any kind of Suboxone high when taken orally. Addicts take Suboxone just to avoid opioid withdrawal symptoms and to keep drug cravings at bay, not to get high. Suboxone will also at least partially block any kind of high from other opioids, too. This blockade can last for several days from the last Suboxone dose because the drug is very long-acting.
Buprenorphine, like all partial narcotic agonists, also has what is called a ceiling effect. This means that taking more of this type of narcotic will not increase any possible high. This is in contrast to full narcotics in that the higher the dose, the more intense the euphoria. This ceiling effect makes partial agonist narcotics unattractive to abusers seeking a high. In other words, opioid abusers take Suboxone to avoid withdrawal. Those trying to maintain their sobriety take it to remain functional and participate in work, school and social and family activities.
What about someone not dependent on opioids? For someone who is opioid naive or not a regular opioid user, a high from Suboxone is more likely to occur. However, even in this case, the fact that buprenorphine is only a partial agonist will always limit its ability to cause euphoria when compared to full-agonist narcotics.
Suboxone for MAT
When Suboxone is used as part of MAT or medication-assisted treatment, euphoria is extremely unlikely to occur. The user simply feels normal and not sick from withdrawal. They do not typically feel high at all. This idea that Suboxone users walk around high as a kite is a myth.
Methadone
Even methadone, another MAT drug for the treatment of opioid use disorder or OUD, doesn’t typically cause euphoria, either. Even though methadone is a full-agonist narcotic, it acts so slowly that any kind of significant high is also unlikely. People on methadone MAT aren’t walking around high as a kite either, especially when their dose is properly managed.
Methadone is also used medically for the management of pain in persons without OUD. Methadone is one of the most effective oral analgesics ever created. Buprenorphine is sometimes prescribed for pain management as well in persons with and without OUD, but its partial agonist activity on the brain’s opioid receptors generally result in less than optimal pain control.
We Can Help
If you’re struggling with opioid addiction, it may seem like there is no way out. If you’ve tried to make it through withdrawal on your own, it may seem impossible to get your life back on track. However, it is possible with the right kind of help. Just call us anytime at 844-844-3463 for compassionate referrals to Suboxone treatment in your area. We’re here to help.