How to Get Rid of Nausea From Suboxone

Nausea is a well-known Suboxone side effect.[1] It is common for people to feel a little nausea when they start taking this medication.

The best way to get rid of nausea from Suboxone is to be patient. Most people feel better when their bodies have adjusted to their medication after a few days.

If your nausea is severe or doesn’t get better with simple at-home treatment, talk with your doctor. You might need a different treatment solution for your opioid use disorder (OUD). 

At-Home Treatment for Nausea 

If your Suboxone makes you feel nauseous, Try these approaches: [2]

• Mild foods: Eat something like crackers or bread to settle your stomach before taking your dose 
• Don’t Take Your Meds on An Empty Stomach:  Eating a small amount of food fifteen or twenty minutes before taking your dose can help decrease nausea 
• Cool drinks: Water or a hydration drink (like Pedialyte) could help to calm your digestive system. 
• Don’t Swallow Any Residue: Many patients feel a bit of residue in their mouth after the strip is dissolved. If this residue is swallowed, it can irritate the stomach. Some providers encourage that you spit out the residue instead of swallowing it to avoid nausea. 
• Over-the-counter medications: Some people get relief anti-nausea medications, either over the counter or prescription.

When it’s time for your next dose, set yourself up for success. Eat a small snack about a half-hour before your Suboxone is due, and drink plenty of water. 

Does Suboxone Nausea Get Better?

Usually, yes. Most people don't experience persistent nausea from Suboxone. Studies suggest most people feel the strongest side effects within the first few days or weeks of therapy.[3] After that, problems begin to resolve.

One exception exists. Take Suboxone too close to your last dose of opioids, and you could experience precipitated withdrawal. Your medication blocks the effectiveness of your illicit drugs, and you feel withdrawal symptoms like these:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Sweating
• Anxiety

If your first Suboxone dose produces profound nausea, talk to your treatment team right away. They can help adjust your dose and work with you to combat symptoms of nausea as you first transition to taking this medication.

Sources

1. Buprenorphine. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/medications-counseling-related-conditions/buprenorphine. July 2022. Accessed September 2022.
2. Prolonged Nausea and Vomiting Associated with Buprenorphine. Pharmacotherapy. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1708499/. 1991. Accessed September 2022. 
3. A Retrospective Evaluation of Patients Switched from Buprenorphine (Subutex) to the Buprenorphine/Naloxone Combination (Suboxone). Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2453114/. 2008. Accessed September 2022.