Suboxone and Alcohol: Risks and Overdose Warning Signs

What happens when you drink on Suboxone: heavier sedation, slowed breathing, and overdose risk, plus warning signs and safer ways to stay in treatment.

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Key takeaway

Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone) and alcohol both slow the central nervous system, so drinking while on Suboxone can cause heavy sedation, slowed breathing, and overdose, especially with benzodiazepines. Drinking does not have to mean leaving treatment. Tell your prescriber, and call 911 if someone cannot be woken. Call or text (800) 653-9376 to find help.

Last updated: Wed Oct 07 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Suboxone combines buprenorphine, a medication for opioid use disorder, with naloxone. It lowers overdose risk and helps people stay in recovery. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, and drinking while on buprenorphine adds sedation on top of sedation. Many people on Suboxone also struggle with alcohol, so this is a common and important question.

If someone on Suboxone has been drinking and cannot be woken or is breathing slowly, call 911 and give naloxone. For a crisis, call or text 988.

Why the combination is risky

Buprenorphine has a "ceiling effect" that makes it less likely than full opioids to stop breathing when taken alone as prescribed. That safety margin shrinks when other depressants are added. Alcohol, benzodiazepines, and other sedatives can combine with buprenorphine to cause:

Heavy drowsiness and confusion
Slowed or stopped breathing
Blackouts, falls, and crashes
Overdose, especially with benzodiazepines or other opioids in the mix

The Suboxone prescribing information warns against combining buprenorphine with alcohol and other CNS depressants.

The liver

Buprenorphine labeling includes warnings about liver injury, and heavy drinking is a leading cause of liver disease. If you drink regularly, have hepatitis B or C, or have had abnormal liver tests, your prescriber may check liver function more often.

Drinking does not have to mean leaving treatment

The FDA has advised clinicians not to withhold buprenorphine or methadone from people who also use alcohol or other sedatives, because stopping the medication raises overdose risk. The better path is honesty: tell your prescriber how much you drink so they can adjust the plan, add counseling, and treat alcohol use directly.

Treating alcohol use while on Suboxone

Counseling and mutual-help groups work alongside buprenorphine.
Acamprosate and some other alcohol medications can be used with Suboxone, if your prescriber agrees.
Naltrexone treats alcohol use disorder but cannot be taken with Suboxone, because it blocks opioids and can trigger withdrawal.
If you drink heavily every day, do not stop drinking suddenly on your own. Alcohol withdrawal can cause seizures; ask about medically supervised detox.

Call or text (800) 653-9376 to find treatment that handles both opioids and alcohol, or use this form:

Calling is free; the referral service is paid for by treatment providers, and we check your benefits before you commit.

You can also search findtreatment.gov for programs that offer buprenorphine and alcohol treatment. Learn more about medication-assisted treatment.

Additional Resources

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Common Questions

Can you drink alcohol while taking Suboxone?

It is not recommended. The Suboxone prescribing information warns against using alcohol and other central nervous system depressants with buprenorphine because the combination can cause serious sedation, slowed breathing, and overdose.

Will drinking get me kicked out of Suboxone treatment?

It should not, by itself. The FDA has advised clinicians not to withhold buprenorphine or methadone from patients who also use alcohol or other sedatives, because stopping medication raises overdose risk. Be honest with your prescriber so they can adjust care.

What are the signs of an overdose on Suboxone and alcohol?

Extreme drowsiness, being hard to wake, slow or shallow breathing, blue or gray lips, and gurgling or snoring sounds. Call 911, give naloxone, and keep the person on their side.

Does alcohol affect the liver on Suboxone?

Buprenorphine labeling includes warnings about liver injury, and heavy drinking damages the liver too. Your prescriber may check liver tests, especially if you drink regularly or have hepatitis.

Is there treatment for alcohol use while I am on Suboxone?

Yes. Counseling, mutual-help groups, and some alcohol medications such as acamprosate can be used alongside buprenorphine. Naltrexone cannot be taken with Suboxone because it blocks opioids. Ask your prescriber, or call or text (800) 653-9376 to find care.