Mixing Suboxone and Tramadol

Millions of people in the United States suffer from pain that, if not treated, can affect their lives, including being able to work. Medical doctors remedy this by prescribing painkillers, but the abuse and overdoses have continued growing for years.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Since the 1990s, when the number of opioids prescribed to patients began to grow, the number of overdoses and deaths from prescription opioids has also increased. Even as the amount of opioids prescribed and sold for pain has increased, the amount of pain that Americans report has not similarly changed. From 1999 to 2017, almost 218,000 people died in the United States from overdoses related to prescription opioids. Overdose deaths involving prescription opioids were five times higher in 2017 than in 1999.

Is it safe to use Tramadol and Suboxone together?

Combining Tramadol and Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) is generally not recommended and should only be done under strict medical supervision.

Here’s why:

Drug Interactions

Both Tramadol and Suboxone affect the central nervous system. Tramadol is an opioid analgesic, while Suboxone contains buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, and naloxone, an opioid antagonist. Mixing them can lead to unpredictable effects and potentially dangerous drug interactions.

Respiratory Depression

Both medications can depress the central nervous system and respiratory function. When taken together, there is an increased risk of severe respiratory depression, which can be life-threatening.

Serotonin Syndrome

Tramadol affects serotonin levels in the brain. Combining it with other medications that influence serotonin can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by symptoms such as agitation, confusion, rapid heart rate, and high blood pressure.

Precipitated Withdrawal

Suboxone can cause precipitated withdrawal in individuals who are dependent on full agonist opioids like Tramadol. This occurs because buprenorphine displaces other opioids from the receptors but activates them less, leading to sudden withdrawal symptoms.

Physical Dependence and Substance Abuse

Using both medications together can increase the risk of physical dependence and substance abuse. It’s crucial to follow a treatment program designed by healthcare professionals to manage opioid dependence safely.

FDA and Medical Advice

According to the FDA and other authoritative sources, combining these medications should only be done if specifically advised by a healthcare provider who can monitor the patient closely. They will consider factors such as the patient’s overall health, mental health status, and history of substance abuse.

While it’s not inherently safe to use Tramadol and Suboxone together due to the significant risks involved, a healthcare provider might manage both medications in a controlled setting if absolutely necessary. Always consult with a healthcare professional before combining these or any other medications.

Dangers of Polydrug Abuse

This crisis has brought new synthetic opioid painkillers into play, milder than your usual oxycodone, morphine, or fentanyl, therefore, thought to be less addictive like the latest painkiller, Tramadol. Besides those who are still in chronic pain that still needs medication to live everyday life, there are opioid medications that help those individuals with an opioid dependency.

Suboxone and Tramadol Are Addictive

Some might think that since one is to help you get off opioids and the other is a low grade, not as potent an opioid for pain, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to take them simultaneously. Or perhaps one was taken earlier in the day, and the drug is still in your body while you pop the other painkiller. This is a recipe for disaster. Besides death from overdose, it can increase your risk of seizures. Mixing Suboxone and Tramadol is not recommended, and you should know the risks.

Suboxone has been proven to be effective in safely getting addicts off opiates. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NIH), Suboxone is the combination of buprenorphine and naloxone used to treat opioid dependence (addiction to opioid drugs, including heroin and narcotic painkillers). Buprenorphine is in a class of medications called opioid partial agonist-antagonists, and naloxone is in a class of medications called opioid antagonists. Buprenorphine alone and the combination of buprenorphine and naloxone work to prevent opioid withdrawal symptoms when someone stops taking opioid drugs by producing similar effects to these drugs.

Tramadol, although weaker, is a synthetic opioid just like fentanyl, and it comes in an immediate-release form or an extended-release form. It has been thought by doctors to be a safer alternative to the more potent painkillers, but research shows it too can become dependent on and cause addiction, taken as prescribed or not. It has even been named more heavily than other painkillers because it is not highly addictive, even to those with a history of substance use disorder.

Mixing Tramadol and Suboxone Causes Deadly Effects

Mixing Suboxone and Tramadol could have deadly effects. If you have taken opioid medicines such as Tramadol for a while or taken a hefty dose of it, the buprenorphine in Suboxone may cause you to experience precipitated withdrawal. If you have only taken Tramadol for a short time, the Suboxone may reduce some of the effectiveness of your Tramadol, therefore, not controlling your pain as well.

As we know, taking Suboxone in its directed form will cause the naloxone to remain dormant and will only release the buprenorphine. The intake of two opioids at once can cause an overdose. If altered, Suboxone does have the potential to completely negate the effects of both Tramadol and buprenorphine, making the mixture useless. Further, mixing naloxone and Tramadol can lead to an increased risk of seizures.

Get the Help You Need

If you or a loved one may be dependent or addicted to opioids, we At Allure Detox can help get you back on track. We are a comfortable and evidence-based drug and alcohol detox in West Palm Beach, Florida. We can free you or your loved one from the physical symptoms of addiction and start you on the path to recovery. We offer detoxification from drugs and alcohol on a medical basis so that you can safely resume the life you once lived, the life you thought was lost forever.

Men and women emerge from Allure Detox healthy, sane, and prepared for a lifetime of recovery. Please contact us today if you or someone you love is suffering the pain of addiction.

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Published on: 2021-01-10
Updated on: 2024-09-23