Can Suboxone Get You High?

Suboxone can result in a “high,” but only in some people.

Suboxone contains buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist that activates opioid receptors less than full opioids like heroin or methadone. A ceiling effect means higher doses stop adding effects, and the naloxone in Suboxone can trigger withdrawal if someone dependent on full opioids injects the film.

Who is at risk: people with no opioid tolerance, people who mix Suboxone with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other sedatives, and anyone taking it without a prescription. Mixing it with sedatives raises the risk of profound sedation, slowed breathing, and coma.

About 4.8 million people aged 12 or older in the United States had an opioid use disorder (OUD) in 2024, and only 17 percent of them, roughly 818,000 people, got medication for it. Provisional CDC data put opioid-involved overdose deaths at 44,564 in 2025, down from 55,296 in 2024.

OUD is a complex condition, but it’s also treatable. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is an effective treatment for people with OUD. MAT involves the combination of medication, individual counseling, and group counseling. Suboxone may be the medication used in MAT.

Suboxone is a prescription medication that the FDA has approved to treat opioid use disorder since 2002. Suboxone is an effective medication for those in MAT. However, some people, particularly those who did not previously have OUD, misuse Suboxone to get high.

Those with OUD may attempt to use Suboxone to experience euphoric feelings. Suboxone is a controlled substance that carries the risk of dependence and misuse.

If you or a loved one struggles with OUD or has questions about Suboxone, we hope to help. This post answers common questions about Suboxone, including how it helps people with OUD and what happens when it is misused.

What Is Suboxone?

Suboxone is the brand name of a medication that combines buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is a type of medicine called a partial opioid agonist. This means that buprenorphine activates the same opioid receptors in the brain as full agonists such as methadone or heroin, but does not activate the receptors as strongly.

As a result, buprenorphine produces a lower degree of sedation and respiratory depression than full agonists. It tricks the brain into thinking it is receiving a strong opioid, which keeps withdrawal symptoms away. A person with OUD will feel “normal” after taking buprenorphine once a therapeutic dose is reached.

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist. This means it blocks the activation of opioid receptors. After taking naloxone, a person will not feel euphoria from an opioid. Naloxone reverses euphoric effects, but also causes immediate withdrawal symptoms when used improperly.

By combining both buprenorphine and naloxone, Suboxone is meant to reduce withdrawal symptoms and deter misuse.

Suboxone comes as a sublingual film that dissolves under the tongue or inside the cheek, usually once a day. A doctor may start a patient on a low dose of buprenorphine before switching to Suboxone. Sometimes a doctor will start a patient on Suboxone right away depending on the type of opioid they were taking.

Patients are told to take Suboxone exactly as directed. The film must stay whole: it should not be cut, chewed, or swallowed.

Can You Overdose on Suboxone?

Yes. Because of its ceiling effect, Suboxone carries a lower overdose risk than full opioids, but an overdose can still happen. Higher doses stop adding opioid effects, yet heavy sedation and slowed breathing remain possible, especially in people with no opioid tolerance.

The risk climbs when Suboxone is mixed with other substances that slow the central nervous system. Alcohol, benzodiazepines, and sedatives can cause profound sedation, slowed breathing, coma, and death.

Our guide to medications you cannot take with buprenorphine covers the full list.

Signs of a Suboxone overdose include:

• Pinpoint pupils
• Slowed breathing
• Extreme drowsiness or being unable to wake up
• Dizziness or blurred vision
• Collapse or a seizure

If you think someone is overdosing:

1. Call 911 right away for emergency care.
2. Give naloxone if you have it. Naloxone reverses opioid overdoses and is available without a prescription.
3. Stay with the person until emergency responders arrive.

The FDA label also advises prescribers to strongly consider prescribing naloxone when Suboxone is started.

What Is Suboxone Used For?

Doctors may prescribe Suboxone as part of treatment for OUD. It is effective in treating OUD involving heroin or prescription opioids such as OxyContin or Percocet. Suboxone, along with counseling, has been proven to successfully treat OUD and help people maintain recovery.

When used as part of MAT, the goal of Suboxone treatment is long-term recovery. MAT has been shown to improve patient survival, decrease illicit opioid use, increase retention in a treatment program, and increase the chance of gaining and maintaining employment. Methadone and buprenorphine are linked to lower rates of death and overdose than no treatment.

Medications such as Suboxone treat OUD rather than swapping one disorder for another. Doctors monitor patients who receive medication as part of treatment and give them an amount that does not get them high but reduces cravings. By easing cravings and withdrawal, it lets the person focus on counseling and daily life.

Does Suboxone Get You High at First?

It can for some people. Someone with no opioid tolerance may feel pain relief, calm, and mild euphoria from a dose, because the buprenorphine in Suboxone still activates opioid receptors. A person with OUD who takes Suboxone as prescribed is unlikely to get high and usually feels “normal” instead.

The effect has a limit. Buprenorphine has a ceiling effect, so higher doses stop adding opioid effects. Taking Suboxone too soon after a full opioid can trigger sudden withdrawal instead of relief, which is why prescribers time the first dose around clear withdrawal signs.

Signs Your Suboxone Dose Is Too High

Taking more Suboxone than prescribed can cause sedation and slowed breathing. Signs your dose may be too high include:

• Extreme tiredness or drowsiness
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Confusion or slurred speech
• Slowed breathing
• Nausea or vomiting

Contact your prescriber if you notice these signs. Take Suboxone as a single daily dose, exactly as prescribed, and never take extra film to feel a stronger effect. If breathing slows or the person cannot be woken, call 911.

Does Suboxone Make You Nod Off?

It can cause drowsiness, especially early in treatment, after a dose change, or when it is mixed with alcohol or sedatives. The FDA label warns that Suboxone may impair the mental or physical abilities needed for tasks like driving or running machinery.

Drowsiness or trouble staying awake can mean the dose is too high or that Suboxone has been combined with other depressants. Call your prescriber, and call 911 if the person cannot be woken.

Too Much Suboxone: Side Effects

Taking more Suboxone than prescribed can bring the usual side effects on more strongly, including nausea, vomiting, headache, sweating, and constipation. It can also cause sedation, confusion, and slowed breathing.

Injecting Suboxone carries a risk of life-threatening disease or other serious health problems, and it can cause withdrawal in people dependent on full opioids. Read more about the dangers of snorting, smoking, or injecting Suboxone.

Suboxone vs. Methadone

You may be wondering how Suboxone differs from methadone, another commonly used medication for OUD treatment. Buprenorphine is about as effective as methadone at reducing opioid use, though methadone may keep some people in treatment longer.

Whether or not a patient should take Suboxone or methadone depends on their unique needs. A doctor must evaluate a patient and consider factors such as dosing schedule, side effects, risk of misuse, and cost.

Perhaps the most significant difference between Suboxone and methadone is the risk of misuse. Methadone is a full agonist opioid, which means it produces stronger feelings of euphoria than Suboxone. It is also an effective pain reliever for patients with chronic pain.

Suboxone, on the other hand, is less likely to be misused because it is a partial agonist. The naloxone in Suboxone prevents the drug from producing intoxicating effects if it is dissolved and injected, and can trigger withdrawal symptoms instead. Therefore, patients are also less likely to inject Suboxone. The risk of overdosing on methadone is higher than the risk of overdosing on Suboxone.

Methadone may be a more effective treatment option for patients with high levels of physical dependence on opioids. Suboxone may not be sufficient for helping some patients stay in treatment.

Suboxone may suit patients who are dependent on lower doses of opioids or who live far from a treatment facility. Clinicians no longer need a special federal waiver to prescribe buprenorphine, and prescribing by telehealth is possible. That makes treatment easier to access, including in rural communities.

There are many more studies about methadone and its long-term effects because it has been used in OTP treatment much longer than Suboxone. The FDA approved methadone for opioid use disorder treatment in 1972.

Misusing Suboxone to Get High

Even though Suboxone is weaker than other opioids, it’s still a partial agonist and can produce an opioid effect. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) lists buprenorphine products such as Suboxone as a Schedule III drug.

This means it’s a controlled substance with low to moderate potential for physical and psychological dependence. In other words, people who misuse Suboxone can develop dependence on it, too.

People may snort or inject Suboxone to get high. People who are not in treatment programs may obtain Suboxone from patients who sell or give their medication away. Some people buy Suboxone without a prescription to ease withdrawal or cravings on their own, not to get high.

People may use Suboxone with alcohol or other opioids to get high. Taking Suboxone with other substances increases the risk of overdose death.

Who Is at Risk of Misusing Suboxone?

Suboxone is most likely to produce a high in people with low or no opioid tolerance and in people in the early stages of opioid use. For people dependent on higher doses of full opioids, a dose can trigger withdrawal instead.

If you or someone you love uses Suboxone to get high, know that help is available to you. OUD is a medical condition, and people recover from it with treatment. MAT programs help people address OUD as a whole, treating underlying mental health issues and addressing physical dependence.

For patients who are already in recovery, a MAT program can help keep them on track and avoid misusing Suboxone.

Side Effects and Withdrawal

Like any medication, patients may experience certain side effects with Suboxone when they take it as directed. Tell your prescriber about anything unusual, because they can adjust your dose.

If you misuse Suboxone, consider seeking treatment today. Suboxone can be deadly if misused.

1. Suboxone Side Effects

Common side effects include the following. Speak with your doctor if you are uncomfortable or if they do not go away.

• Stomach: nausea, vomiting, constipation
• Mouth: numbness, a swollen or painful tongue
• Head: headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, blurred vision
• Other: sweating, heart palpitations, back pain, sleep issues

2. Serious Side Effects

Call your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

• Allergic reaction: hives, rash, itching, swelling, difficulty breathing
• Breathing and alertness: slowed breathing, extreme tiredness, confusion, slurred speech
• Other: yellowing of skin or eyes, unusual bleeding or bruising, difficulty swallowing, hallucinations

3. Signs and Symptoms of Suboxone Misuse

If you suspect that a loved one is misusing Suboxone, you can look for behavioral signs of opioid misuse, such as:

• Mood and behavior: sudden mood swings, noticeable euphoria, isolation, secrecy, depression, decreased motivation, anxiety attacks
• Daily life: legal issues, trouble meeting commitments, problems at work, school, or with family and friends, changes in routines or habits
• Money: sudden financial problems or a need for quick cash
• Medication use: taking more than prescribed, visiting multiple doctors for opioid prescriptions, being unable to stop

4. Suboxone Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal can happen in two ways. Taking Suboxone improperly, such as injecting it, can cause sudden withdrawal in people dependent on full opioids like morphine, methadone, or heroin.

Stopping Suboxone suddenly after months or years of use can also cause withdrawal. Long-acting opioid withdrawal symptoms usually emerge within 30 hours of the last exposure and may last up to 10 days.

Although withdrawal symptoms are rarely life-threatening, they are still unpleasant. Talk to your prescriber before stopping or lowering your dose. The label advises a gradual taper to avoid withdrawal.

Withdrawal symptoms from stopping or dramatically reducing Suboxone may include:

• Body: muscle aches, cramps, shaking, sweating, runny nose, dilated pupils, yawning
• Stomach: abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Mood and sleep: anxiety, agitation, insomnia, cravings

Important Information About Suboxone

Keep these safety points in mind:

• Suboxone can cause serious breathing problems. Get emergency help right away if you feel faint, dizzy, or confused, or if you breathe more slowly than usual.
• Patients should not switch from Suboxone to other medicines containing buprenorphine without talking to a doctor first.
• Suboxone is not meant to be taken “as needed.”
• Patients should always tell their doctor about other medications they take before they start taking Suboxone.
• Suboxone can cause liver problems, and patients should tell their doctor if they have a history of liver or kidney issues.
• Suboxone may decrease fertility in men and women.
• Patients who are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or who are breastfeeding should talk to their doctor before taking Suboxone.

Other Forms of Buprenorphine and Naloxone

Zubsolv is a sublingual tablet that also combines buprenorphine and naloxone. It has higher bioavailability than Suboxone film, and an open-label survey rated its taste better. Generic versions of buprenorphine and naloxone are also available.

Buprenorphine-only tablets, once sold as Subutex, contain no naloxone. Our guide to Subutex vs. Suboxone explains the difference.

Contact Health Care Resource Centers Today

OUD is hard on the person living with it and on the people who love them. If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid use, reach out to Health Care Resource Centers (HCRC). We have provided high-quality medication-assisted treatment at locations across New England for over 25 years.

Contact us today or find a treatment center near you.

Suboxone FAQs

Is It Possible to Overdose on Suboxone?

Yes. Suboxone has a ceiling effect that lowers overdose risk compared with full opioids, but an overdose can still happen, especially in people with no opioid tolerance or when Suboxone is mixed with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or sedatives. Call 911 right away and give naloxone if you have it.

Will Suboxone Make Me Feel High When I Start?

It can, mainly in people with no opioid tolerance, who may feel pain relief, calm, and mild euphoria. A person with OUD who takes Suboxone as prescribed usually feels normal rather than high.

How Can I Tell if My Suboxone Dose Is Too High?

Signs include extreme drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, slurred speech, nausea or vomiting, and slowed breathing. Contact your prescriber, and call 911 if breathing slows or the person cannot be woken.

Why Does Suboxone Make Me Nod Off?

Drowsiness is most likely early in treatment, after a dose change, or when Suboxone is mixed with alcohol or sedatives. The FDA label warns that it may impair driving and other tasks that need alertness. Tell your prescriber if you keep nodding off, because your dose may need adjusting.

What Happens if You Take Too Much Suboxone?

The usual side effects can come on more strongly, including nausea, vomiting, headache, sweating, and constipation. Heavy sedation, confusion, and slowed breathing can follow. Get medical help right away.

What Are the Side Effects of Using Suboxone?

Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, constipation, headache, sweating, dizziness, mouth numbness, and sleep issues. Serious effects, such as hives, difficulty breathing, slowed breathing, or yellowing of the skin or eyes, need immediate medical attention.

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