Does Suboxone Cause Hallucinations?

Suboxone can cause side effects, just like any prescription medication. During Suboxone’s clinical trials, researchers kept track of all of the complications and problems patients faced. No one complained about hallucinations.[1]

What Are Hallucinations?

Hallucinations are sensations that a person experiences that aren't coming from real outside stimuli. [2]

Hallucinations can be any of the following:

• Auditory: People state they hear one or multiple voices or sounds that cannot be heard by others. 
• Sensory: People may feel something crawling on the skin in the absence of a visible or tangible object. They may also smell scents others can't detect.
• Visual: People may see things that aren't there.

Hallucinations can be caused by many factors, such as these:

• Medication side effects
• Mental health disorders (such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe stress)
• Medication withdrawal 
• Central nervous system diseases (such as Alzheimer’s disease or epilepsy)

If you have a history of hallucinations or other mental health problems, talk to your doctor before taking Suboxone. Find out if the medication is right for you.  

Understanding Suboxone & Hallucinations

Suboxone is not associated with causing hallucinations.

On rare occasions, full opioid agonists like oxycodone or morphine have been associated with hallucinations, usually when used in conjunction with other drugs or substances.

The other instance in which hallucinations have been associated with opioids is during opioid withdrawal. Psychotic symptoms during withdrawal are exceedlingly rare, but they can happen.[4]

If you experience new hallucinations while on Suboxone, it is unlikely that buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) is the cause, and you should seek medical attention immediately to look for another explanation. 

Speak With an MAT Provider Before Stopping Suboxone 

While stopping Suboxone therapy abruptly may cause withdrawal, it is never life threatening. However, it can be very unpleasant. If you no longer want to take Suboxone, you should speak with your doctor first. Together, you can discuss the reasons you want to discontinue and can do so slowly to avoid any unpleasant side effects. 

Remember that Suboxone is often prescribed on a long-term basis. Many people take Suboxone for years or even indefinitely as long as it continues to support their recovery from opioid use disorder.

Sources

1. Suboxone Prescribing Information. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2018/020733s022lbl.pdf. February 2018. Accessed December 2022.
2. Hallucinations. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/hallucination. Accessed December 2022. 
3. Opioid-Induced Hallucinations: A Review of the Literature, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Anesthesia and Analgesia. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6482381/. April 2019. Accessed December 2022.
4. Psychotic Symptoms in Heroin Withdrawal: A Case Report. Cureus. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7872486/. January 2021. Accessed December 2022.