Quick Question About Subutex and Alcohol

[paulcook]

Swim is planning a trip to Canada in a week or so, but he is also still doing his Subutex detox. He'd like to go to the bar with his buddies and just sip on a beer, but he has heard that mixing alcohol with his meds might be a bad idea. Does anyone know if it would be "O.K." to drink a beer whilst on Subutex? What would be the dangers? Thank you.

[Forthesevenlakes]

Mixing drugs is never without danger, and opiates are notorious for causing respiratory depression which can quickly become fatal when combined with alcohol. However, buprenorphine (subutex) does not seem to show the same degree of respiratory depression as more classic opiates/opioids. While SWIM does not advise mixing the two, he has had a glass of wine a few hours after taking subutex, and has witnessed other lab rats do the same without apparent ill effect. So a beer, as in ONE beer, would most likely be safe, but SWIM would not advise trying to get ragingly drunk while still on subutex, since unforseen danger could result. If SWIY is thinking he'd like to get mildly tipsy, it may be best to consult SWIY's doctor on the safety of this.

[paulcook]

Thank you!! Swims doc pretty much said the same thing. Swim just doesn't want to get hassled by the boys that he's not drinking or whatever. Damn peer-pressure! Well, I will definitely tell Swim to take it easy and stick to ONE beer over the course of an hour or so. If Swim was so inclined to get tipsy, should I perhaps tell him that he could go off his meds for a day or two?? He doesn't wanna start withdrawling, but getting drunk might be nice too! Thanks again ForTheSevenLakes.

[Forthesevenlakes]

SWIY could probably go off the subutex for a while without a problem, due to its incredibly long half life, skipping a day should not leave SWIY hurting too badly. However, again, SWIY may want to ask his doctor about doing that, as they may want SWIY to be taking the doses on a regular basis for consistency reasons. If SWIY usually takes his subutex in the morning when he wakes up, it may not be too harmful to have more than one drink, but SWIM doesnt want to advise SWIY to go and get drunk without asking a medical professional first, since SWIM is not a doctor, and although SWIM had no problem when he drank after taking subutex, there could be interactions that SWIM doesn't know about.

[paulcook]

Thanks for the advice! Swim's gonna take it easy for his parents' sake. His father is VERY concerned about the combo. He's a bit "old school". Th anks again though!!!

[Maximill]

If SWIM can drink 8 beers on 4 80mg oxycontins I think SWIY shouldn't have a problem.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Risky advice

[Forthesevenlakes]

Originally Posted by Maximill

If SWIM can drink 8 beers on 4 80mg oxycontins I think SWIY shouldn't have a problem.

Keep in mind this is all due to personal tolerance though. For most people drinking 8 beers with 4 80 mg oxycontins would be a great way to end the night as a smiling corpse. Under no circumstances would SWIM use a different tolerance as a basis for comparison. SWIM had no problem drinking some beer on subutex, but that is by no means a guarantee that someone else would be safe in the same situation. Hence, SWIM's reccomendation to consult a doctor before attempting to get tipsy. Buprenorphine doesnt seem to depress respiration for SWIM, but it very well could for others, and sufficient beer to catch a buzz could get dangerous for some people, conceivably.

[Santa]

O.k. Swim sort of has the same question: Swim switches from a low dose (12 mgs) of methadone to temgesic next week (temgesic= buprenophine, it doesn't have the extra nalexone in it).
Swim has used methadone for over 20 years and also likes to have a few drinks when she comes home from work. Not as in huge amounts but a few glasses of wine before dinner. Swim never drinks after dinner. (Fact: Swim is getting sort of old and boring)
So Swim hasn't been pissed-as-hell-drunk in many years and doesn't feel the urge to be either. But Swim does like a few glasses at the end of the day and would miss her glass of wine.
So Swims will only quit drinking during the week of the switch but after that Swim knows she'll just have her usual drinks again. So far Swim doesn't see why the hell not unless there is some real danger Swim isn't aware of (and Swim knows all the 'don't mix A with B blabla). Swim has a tolerance for both opiates and alcohol (both in moderation).
I would like to hear experiences of (moderate) drinkers on sub (or of subusers on moderate drinks ;-)

[IdahoSpeed]

Swim hasn't had any problems drinking in moderation while on Suboxone. Swim will have 3 or 4 beers over the course of the night and be just fine. Swim takes 4mg of Sub daily. Swim is 6' 3", 195lbs with a mild alcohol tolerance.

[Santa]

Thanks Idahospeed!

[biggpri]

my school principal is on a suboxone maintenance program and has been taking 4-8mg per day for a few months. he is not much of a drinker, but can usually hold his liquor down pretty well. yet last week he was at a party, and about 5 beers into it, he began to suddenly feel very sick. his whole world tilted 30 degrees and standing still and upright became near impossible. after throwing up twice, his friend insisted that he take him home to sleep it off. remember, though, that suboxone contains buprenorphine and naloxone. word is that naloxone can have a negative effect with alcohol. i'm not sure exactly what it was that made my principal so sick, but the moral of the story is: if you're gonna drink on suboxone, take it easy. don't pund the booze like a kennedy.

[Santa]

I am on subuxone now (16 mgs) and am drinking far less than when I was on methadone. After 2 to 3 glasses I loose interest and just stop (to my own surprise actually...)