Interactions of Subxone with other drugs:

The following is a list of the most common drug interactions for Suboxone.  This is by no means a complete list. Consult a physician or pharmacist for a complete list.  Always inform your physician or pharmacist about the complete list of your medications so that you could be alerted to any dangerous interactions.

Sedatives/hypnotics (downers/sleepers):

Concurrent use of Suboxone and such medications can increase the risk of respiratory depression, hypotension, and profound sedation , coma and death. Of particular concern among these drugs are the benzodiazepines.  While Suboxone has a higher safety profile when used with benzodiazepines, deaths have been reported when buprenorphine was taken in conjunction with benzodiazepines (especially when injected).  Closer monitoring is needed if these medications are used/abused along with Suboxone. There are many drugs within the class of benzodiazepines but the mostly commonly used ones are: diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), clonazepam (Klonipin), alprazolam (Xanax), oxazepam (Serax), temazepam (Restoril), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), etc.

Opioid Antagonists, Mixed Agonist/Antagonists, and Full Agonists:

Withdrawal symptoms, sometimes severe and prolonged, can be induced when someone on a full agonist, takes suboxone. Examples of full agonists are methadone, oxycodone (OxyContin® or Percocet®), fentanyl, hydromorphone (Dilaudid®), heroin, morphine, codeine, etc.

Withdrawal symptoms can also be induced when someone on Suboxone, takes a full antogonist, or partial antagonist. Examples of pure antagonists are naloxone (Narcan), naltrexone (Revia or Vivitrol); and an example of mixed or partial agonist is pentazocine (Talwin).