How Long Does Withdrawal From Suboxone Last?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDurationSymptomsTimelineCopingSuboxone Relapse PotentialQuitting Suboxone During PregnancyLong-Term Treatment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Duration

Symptoms

Timeline

Coping

Suboxone Relapse Potential

Quitting Suboxone During Pregnancy

Long-Term Treatment

What is the most important information I should know about Suboxone?You may experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking Suboxone; these symptoms may last from seven to 10 days.Do not change your dose or stop taking Suboxone without talking to your doctor first.

What is the most important information I should know about Suboxone?

You may experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking Suboxone; these symptoms may last from seven to 10 days.Do not change your dose or stop taking Suboxone without talking to your doctor first.

Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) is a prescription medication used totreat opioid use disorder(OUD).While it doesn’t produce psychoactive effects, Suboxone is still an opioid—which means that you will experience withdrawal symptoms if you try toquit it suddenly, aka “cold turkey.” Your doctor may recommend tapering your dose over time to minimize withdrawal symptoms.

How Long Does Suboxone Withdrawal Last?

If you are planning to stop taking Suboxone, it can be helpful to know what to expect in terms of how long withdrawal symptoms might last.

Symptoms of Suboxone withdrawal usually last for a week but may last up to 10 days.

Specific withdrawal symptoms may occur at different times, so while some might fade quite quickly, others may linger for a bit longer. For example, muscle aches and joint pain typically decline after the first 72 hours, while feelings of restlessness and anxiety may last for up to a week. Other physical cold-like symptoms, such as a runny or stuffy nose, generally disappear after 10 days.

However, you may experience feelings of general discomfort and opioid craving for a few months.Talk to your doctor about what you can do to manage these continued feelings. Your doctor can prescribe medications that may help, or you might try counseling, support groups, and lifestyle changes to help manage continued discomfort and cravings that you might experience.

Symptoms of Suboxone Withdrawal

If you are using Suboxone as directed for the treatment of opioid addiction or to treat pain, you can expect to experience withdrawal symptoms if you miss a dose or try to quit abruptly.

Physical Symptoms of Withdrawal from Suboxone

Suboxone causes most of the physical symptoms typical of opioid withdrawal. These include:

If you take Suboxone to treat opioid addiction, then your withdrawal symptoms should be less severe than what you have experienced in the past.

To get a better idea of how mild to moderate opioid withdrawal symptoms compared to more intense symptoms, you can check out theClinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS). Health professionals use this scale to determine the severity of opioid withdrawal syndrome.

Psychological Symptoms of Suboxone Withdrawal

Some psychological symptoms of Suboxone withdrawal include:

After withdrawal, people are also forced to take a good look at the damage that their drug addiction has wrought. It is not unusual to struggle with issues of guilt andregret.

Figuring out how to get your life back on track can feel overwhelming and emotionally exhausting. That’s why it’s so important to reach out for help.

Suboxone Withdrawal Timeline

The timeline of Suboxone withdrawal is also a bit different from withdrawal from other opioids. Suboxone is a long-acting opioid, which means withdrawal symptoms can take several days to appear.

Suboxone Withdrawal TimelineSuboxone withdrawal typically begins within two to four days after taking the last dose, peaks around days three to five, and resolves within seven days.

Suboxone withdrawal typically begins within two to four days after taking the last dose, peaks around days three to five, and resolves within seven days.

Sometimes, however, psychological symptoms can linger for several weeks. This may include depression and an inability to feel pleasure.

RecapSuboxone withdrawal can lead to a number of withdrawal symptoms including cold-like symptoms, anxiety, stomach issues, and muscle aches. Such symptoms usually peak within five days and largely resolve within a week.

Recap

Suboxone withdrawal can lead to a number of withdrawal symptoms including cold-like symptoms, anxiety, stomach issues, and muscle aches. Such symptoms usually peak within five days and largely resolve within a week.

Coping With Suboxone Withdrawal

Tapering ScheduleSuboxone tapering schedules typically take place over the course of 7 to 28 days.

Tapering Schedule

Suboxone tapering schedules typically take place over the course of 7 to 28 days.

Do Not Taper On Your OwnIf you have been acquiring your Suboxone illicitly or do not have a close relationship with your doctor, it can be tempting to try tapering down on your own. Tapering on your own increases the likelihood of failure.Unsuccessful attempts to quit are discouraging and psychologically distressing.

Do Not Taper On Your Own

If you have been acquiring your Suboxone illicitly or do not have a close relationship with your doctor, it can be tempting to try tapering down on your own. Tapering on your own increases the likelihood of failure.Unsuccessful attempts to quit are discouraging and psychologically distressing.

If you are still struggling with withdrawal despite the Suboxone taper, your doctor may recommend one or more support medications.

Withdrawal Medication Treatment

Because it does not contain an opioid agonist, Lucemyra treatment can begin immediately after your last dose of Suboxone. It is currently approved to treat healthy adults for a maximum of 14 days following opioid cessation.

Lifestyle Changes

If you are struggling with Suboxone withdrawalit may help to drink more fluids than usual to prevent dehydration. It’s also important to eat a well-balanced diet to keep vitamin and electrolyte levels up.

Work closely with a doctor, counselor, or physical therapist to develop new ways of coping with pain during and after withdrawal. Practice relaxation techniques (meditation, listening to music, etc.,) to help you deal with anxiety and agitation. Try mild to moderate exercise to help you deal with restlessness.

Opioid withdrawal is often unpleasant, but it is very rarely dangerous. When it comes to Suboxone, complications are even more unlikely.Still, it is important to work closely with a medical professional during your Suboxone taper.

The biggest threat to people withdrawing from Suboxone is the risk of relapse.

Relapse is common among people with opioid use disorders and is generally considered a normal part of the recovery process. But people who have been taking Suboxone are typically further along on the path to recovery.

A relapse at this point can be both discouraging and dangerous because your tolerance will have dropped substantially. Relapsing after your tolerance has decreased can lead to adangerous or potentially fatal opioid overdose.

Overdose HelpIf you are in immediate danger or experiencing severe medical symptoms, please get to your nearest emergency room immediately.988

Overdose Help

If you are in immediate danger or experiencing severe medical symptoms, please get to your nearest emergency room immediately.

988

If you are quitting Suboxone because you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you should definitely talk to a doctor.

Suboxone is not recommended during pregnancy,but buprenorphine without naltrexone is. Depending on your situation, your doctor may recommend an accelerated taper or a switch to buprenorphine or methadone, which have been proven safe during pregnancy.

Long-Term Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

Treatment Plan

After Suboxone, a long-term treatment plan should focus on preventing future relapse.Talk therapyplays a very important role in relapse prevention. Once you come off Suboxone, you will have beaten your physical dependence on opioids, but not the psychological aspects of addiction.

Talk therapy can help you figure out why you began using drugs in the first place. You can learn to identify specific situations and feelings that have led you to use in the past. Identifying these triggers helps you recognize and eliminate the negative thought patterns that cause you to make poor decisions.

Research shows that combining talk therapy with medication management is more effective at treating opioid addiction than medication alone.

There are many ways toexplore talk therapy. You might consider working one-on-one with a psychologist or mental health counselor in private practice. You can meet with a mental health or addiction counselor at a local community clinic. Or you can explore group therapy programs, which are offered at many hospitals, clinics, and addiction treatment facilities.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Treatment for Opioid Addiction

16 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Buprenorphine.Kumar R, Viswanath O, Saadabadi A.Buprenorphine. [Updated 2023 Feb 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Westermeyer J, McCance-Katz EF.Course and treatment of buprenorphine/naloxone withdrawal: an analysis of case reports.Am J Addict. 2012;21(5):401-403. doi:10.1111/j.1521-0391.2012.00259.xFood and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Suboxone.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition.Chartoff EH, Carlezon WA Jr.Drug withdrawal conceptualized as a stressor.Behav Pharmacol. 2014;25(5-6):473-492. doi:10.1097/FBP.0000000000000080Derbel I, Ghorbel A, Akrout FM, Zahaf A.Opiate withdrawal syndrome in buprenorphine abusers admitted to a rehabilitation center in Tunisia.Afr Health Sci. 2016;16(4):1067-1077. doi:10.4314/ahs.v16i4.24Ling W, Hillhouse M, Domier C, et al.Buprenorphine tapering schedule and illicit opioid use.Addiction. 2009;104(2):256-65. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02455.xWeinstein ZM, Gryczynski G, Cheng DM, et al.Tapering off and returning to buprenorphine maintenance in a primary care Office Based Addiction Treatment (OBAT) program.Drug Alcohol Depend. 2018;189:166-171. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.05.010Sigmon SC, Dunn KE, Saulsgiver K, et al.A randomized, double-blind evaluation of buprenorphine taper duration in primary prescription opioid abusers.JAMA Psychiatry. 2013;70(12):1347-54 .doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.2216Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves the first non-opioid treatment for management of opioid withdrawal symptoms in adults.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Buprenorphine in the Treatment of Opioid Addiction.Blum K, Oscar-Berman M, Femino J, et al.Withdrawal from buprenorphine/naloxone and maintenance with a natural dopaminergic agonist: A cautionary note.J Addict Res Ther. 2013;4(2). doi:10.4172/2155-6105.1000146National Institute on Drug Abuse.Risk of opioid misuse during pregnancy.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Treating opioid use disorder during pregnancy.Amato L, Minozzi S, Davoli M, Vecchi S.Psychosocial and pharmacological treatments versus pharmacological treatments for opioid detoxification.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd005031.pub4

16 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Buprenorphine.Kumar R, Viswanath O, Saadabadi A.Buprenorphine. [Updated 2023 Feb 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Westermeyer J, McCance-Katz EF.Course and treatment of buprenorphine/naloxone withdrawal: an analysis of case reports.Am J Addict. 2012;21(5):401-403. doi:10.1111/j.1521-0391.2012.00259.xFood and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Suboxone.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition.Chartoff EH, Carlezon WA Jr.Drug withdrawal conceptualized as a stressor.Behav Pharmacol. 2014;25(5-6):473-492. doi:10.1097/FBP.0000000000000080Derbel I, Ghorbel A, Akrout FM, Zahaf A.Opiate withdrawal syndrome in buprenorphine abusers admitted to a rehabilitation center in Tunisia.Afr Health Sci. 2016;16(4):1067-1077. doi:10.4314/ahs.v16i4.24Ling W, Hillhouse M, Domier C, et al.Buprenorphine tapering schedule and illicit opioid use.Addiction. 2009;104(2):256-65. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02455.xWeinstein ZM, Gryczynski G, Cheng DM, et al.Tapering off and returning to buprenorphine maintenance in a primary care Office Based Addiction Treatment (OBAT) program.Drug Alcohol Depend. 2018;189:166-171. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.05.010Sigmon SC, Dunn KE, Saulsgiver K, et al.A randomized, double-blind evaluation of buprenorphine taper duration in primary prescription opioid abusers.JAMA Psychiatry. 2013;70(12):1347-54 .doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.2216Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves the first non-opioid treatment for management of opioid withdrawal symptoms in adults.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Buprenorphine in the Treatment of Opioid Addiction.Blum K, Oscar-Berman M, Femino J, et al.Withdrawal from buprenorphine/naloxone and maintenance with a natural dopaminergic agonist: A cautionary note.J Addict Res Ther. 2013;4(2). doi:10.4172/2155-6105.1000146National Institute on Drug Abuse.Risk of opioid misuse during pregnancy.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Treating opioid use disorder during pregnancy.Amato L, Minozzi S, Davoli M, Vecchi S.Psychosocial and pharmacological treatments versus pharmacological treatments for opioid detoxification.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd005031.pub4

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Buprenorphine.Kumar R, Viswanath O, Saadabadi A.Buprenorphine. [Updated 2023 Feb 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Westermeyer J, McCance-Katz EF.Course and treatment of buprenorphine/naloxone withdrawal: an analysis of case reports.Am J Addict. 2012;21(5):401-403. doi:10.1111/j.1521-0391.2012.00259.xFood and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Suboxone.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition.Chartoff EH, Carlezon WA Jr.Drug withdrawal conceptualized as a stressor.Behav Pharmacol. 2014;25(5-6):473-492. doi:10.1097/FBP.0000000000000080Derbel I, Ghorbel A, Akrout FM, Zahaf A.Opiate withdrawal syndrome in buprenorphine abusers admitted to a rehabilitation center in Tunisia.Afr Health Sci. 2016;16(4):1067-1077. doi:10.4314/ahs.v16i4.24Ling W, Hillhouse M, Domier C, et al.Buprenorphine tapering schedule and illicit opioid use.Addiction. 2009;104(2):256-65. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02455.xWeinstein ZM, Gryczynski G, Cheng DM, et al.Tapering off and returning to buprenorphine maintenance in a primary care Office Based Addiction Treatment (OBAT) program.Drug Alcohol Depend. 2018;189:166-171. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.05.010Sigmon SC, Dunn KE, Saulsgiver K, et al.A randomized, double-blind evaluation of buprenorphine taper duration in primary prescription opioid abusers.JAMA Psychiatry. 2013;70(12):1347-54 .doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.2216Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves the first non-opioid treatment for management of opioid withdrawal symptoms in adults.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Buprenorphine in the Treatment of Opioid Addiction.Blum K, Oscar-Berman M, Femino J, et al.Withdrawal from buprenorphine/naloxone and maintenance with a natural dopaminergic agonist: A cautionary note.J Addict Res Ther. 2013;4(2). doi:10.4172/2155-6105.1000146National Institute on Drug Abuse.Risk of opioid misuse during pregnancy.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Treating opioid use disorder during pregnancy.Amato L, Minozzi S, Davoli M, Vecchi S.Psychosocial and pharmacological treatments versus pharmacological treatments for opioid detoxification.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd005031.pub4

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Buprenorphine.

Kumar R, Viswanath O, Saadabadi A.Buprenorphine. [Updated 2023 Feb 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.

Westermeyer J, McCance-Katz EF.Course and treatment of buprenorphine/naloxone withdrawal: an analysis of case reports.Am J Addict. 2012;21(5):401-403. doi:10.1111/j.1521-0391.2012.00259.x

Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Suboxone.

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition.

Chartoff EH, Carlezon WA Jr.Drug withdrawal conceptualized as a stressor.Behav Pharmacol. 2014;25(5-6):473-492. doi:10.1097/FBP.0000000000000080

Derbel I, Ghorbel A, Akrout FM, Zahaf A.Opiate withdrawal syndrome in buprenorphine abusers admitted to a rehabilitation center in Tunisia.Afr Health Sci. 2016;16(4):1067-1077. doi:10.4314/ahs.v16i4.24

Ling W, Hillhouse M, Domier C, et al.Buprenorphine tapering schedule and illicit opioid use.Addiction. 2009;104(2):256-65. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02455.x

Weinstein ZM, Gryczynski G, Cheng DM, et al.Tapering off and returning to buprenorphine maintenance in a primary care Office Based Addiction Treatment (OBAT) program.Drug Alcohol Depend. 2018;189:166-171. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.05.010

Sigmon SC, Dunn KE, Saulsgiver K, et al.A randomized, double-blind evaluation of buprenorphine taper duration in primary prescription opioid abusers.JAMA Psychiatry. 2013;70(12):1347-54 .doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.2216

Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves the first non-opioid treatment for management of opioid withdrawal symptoms in adults.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Buprenorphine in the Treatment of Opioid Addiction.

Blum K, Oscar-Berman M, Femino J, et al.Withdrawal from buprenorphine/naloxone and maintenance with a natural dopaminergic agonist: A cautionary note.J Addict Res Ther. 2013;4(2). doi:10.4172/2155-6105.1000146

National Institute on Drug Abuse.Risk of opioid misuse during pregnancy.

National Institute on Drug Abuse.Treating opioid use disorder during pregnancy.

Amato L, Minozzi S, Davoli M, Vecchi S.Psychosocial and pharmacological treatments versus pharmacological treatments for opioid detoxification.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd005031.pub4

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