Some people feel drowsy, sedated, or sluggish when they take their first doses of Suboxone. Nausea and headaches caused by Suboxone could also make you feel tired. Thankfully, most people overcome this issue quickly.
Buprenorphine, a key ingredient inside Suboxone, is an opioid. All medications in this class can be sedating, especially when your body isn’t accustomed to them.
Doctors also need time to titrate Suboxone doses. If you take too much, you can feel very sleepy. If you take too little, your cravings may become overwhelming.
If you feel sleepy, talk with your doctor. And deploy some patience and self-care practices to help you feel better as your body adjusts.
Sleepiness is listed as a potential Suboxone side effect in documents created by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.[1]
Suboxone activates the opioid receptors in the brain, so in some ways, it works similarly to other opioids, but without causing a high.
As a partial opioid agonist, buprenorphine is weaker than full opioid agonists, such as heroin and methadone.[2] It won’t slow breathing and heart rate to the same degree as these full opioid agonist drugs, but it can still have a somewhat sedating effect. This is why you may feel a bit tired when you first start taking Suboxone.
As your body adjusts to the consistent presence of the medication, this side effect will lessen. After a few days or weeks, you likely will no longer feel tired due to Suboxone.
Like all medications, Suboxone doesn’t affect everyone in the same way. Some people experience little to no drowsiness or fatigue when they start Suboxone therapy, whereas others may feel quite tired in the first few days of treatment.
These factors could impact your energy level while on Suboxone:
When you start taking Suboxone, monitor your symptoms, observing how the medication affects you. You shouldn’t drive or operate other heavy machinery until you know how Suboxone affects you.
Lower energy levels and sleepiness can be difficult to manage in the early phases of recovery. Remember that you are just starting your journey to recovery, and there is an early adjustment period.
Here are some tips to help you manage Suboxone-related fatigue:
If you are concerned about the possibility that Suboxone is causing you to feel over-sedated or fatigued, talk to your healthcare provider. They might be able to adjust your dosage schedule and will help you determine if a change in your treatment is needed.
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