Buprenorphine / naloxone and Nausea: What Users Say

• dad...
• November 21, 2009

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "To make a long story short... I have missed out on 6 years of quality time that I could have spent with my kids making memories. Instead, I was lying in bed making phone calls trying to find pain pills just so I could get out of bed. I knew I had a problem, and I tried to stop. I just couldn't do it. I felt hopeless! But what was worse than feeling hopeless was knowing that I wasn't being the father that my kids deserved to have. Then one day, sitting in the doctor's office, I saw a brochure for Suboxone. That was the day my kids got their Daddy back! Trust me, it works! So please don't make the same mistake I did. Don't wait, your kids need you now!"

• Sin...
• September 29, 2015

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I am compelled to share my experience with you. I suffered from a severe back injury years ago. I was prescribed 80mg per day of Methadone, 90mg per day of Oxycodone. For the first 6 months, I thought this is my only way to get through each day, but then my need grew. I was burning through my meds and buying pills off the street. I was using everything from Dilaudid to Methadone, to Oxycodone, Lortabs, Percocets, morphine, fentanyl. You name it, I was using it. I became so addicted to opiates that I was on the verge of losing everything. I'm a single dad, and I was ruining my family's life. I found a Suboxone doctor, and he prescribed 8mg per day. It not only treated my pain but saved my life. I am off of the opiates, and I have my life back."

• Nik...
• December 28, 2019

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I've been on Suboxone for about a year but only took half of the 8mg a day. I heard horror stories, its withdrawals are horrible if you take a lot. I wanted to get off them because my sex drive is non-existent, and I have a boyfriend, so that's a big issue. Also, they make me sleep long, long hours. On my days off, I could sleep all day if I wanted to, they make me constipated. I'm on day 2 of not taking any. I am withdrawing: restless nights, body aches, yawning non-stop, and nausea, but it's not unbearable, it's just annoying. I'm pretty much laying around waiting to feel normal again. Anyone out there that doesn't take the whole strip, you guys can get off it, it's not that bad. Good luck!"

• PRO...
• September 30, 2008

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I was addicted to pain medication for over 5 years. I was taking every pain pill I could get my hands on and had no problems getting doctors to give me more. I started taking Suboxone and I am now back to who I once was. It is a true lifesaver. It makes you feel normal and alive again. I have become the person that everyone missed. If you are skeptical like I was, this medication will change your mind. It does work. It does take the withdrawals away and you can function again. I get sick to my stomach just thinking about pain pills. Thank you to the creator and thank you to my family for never giving up on me. Never give up."

• Jay...
• January 25, 2019

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "After using heroin for 15+ years. The problem I had with Suboxone was that it made me so sick. My doc switched me to Tex, and this went away. When I moved to the south, no one would write them. The doc said to hold it under my tongue until dissolved, then spit out the saliva. The problem is, subs taste like crap and take 20 min to completely dissolve. A new doc told me about Zubsolv, saying it dissolves much quicker. I decided to try it, and I’m happy I did! It dissolves in 5-10 min and tastes like mint. Cravings are near nonexistent, and I don’t have side effects aside from some nausea if I swallow some. I think most of the negative reviews are psychosomatic. People don’t like change, and this medicine is newer and less known. It’s not a cheap generic! It’s actually more expensive than Suboxone. The dosing also upsets people. The 5.7 is the equivalent of an 8 mg sub, and people just don’t believe that. Whatever, I’m a fan... and heroin free."

• Nog...
• May 16, 2016

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I have been on Subs for 7 years and have been very successful with my family and career! Two weeks ago I decided I don't want to depend on anything but myself, well I thought... I have been taking just a quarter strip for one year now and if I skip a day, I can barely function. I called my doctor and he told me there's no withdrawal... Bullshit! It's been two weeks, I haven't taken it, and I still can't sleep at night, my back feels like it's on fire, and I just got done puking my guts out! This has been the hardest thing I have EVER had to overcome! If you're serious about getting clean, DO NOT take this for a long period of time! Yes, it helps with the cravings but not your addiction!"

• cur...
• August 7, 2007

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "This is the fifth day my husband has been on Suboxone. My husband was on methadone for 4 years. I thought opiates were bad, this methadone is bad news. I am glad there was Suboxone to help him. He wouldn't have made it this far just quitting cold turkey off methadone."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 23, 2019

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I have been taking one 5.7 Zubsolv for opiate addiction. I took Suboxone years ago without side effects (some constipation). The Zubsolv makes me feel nauseous, which I never experienced with Suboxone. I started taking Zubsolv in February this year. Since then (it is now X-mas Eve), I have lost 55 lbs, and I am not dieting. Can't eat, I have no appetite and constant nausea, to the point of dry heaves. I was having both constipation and diarrhea but without much output. I feel like I have the flu or a stomach virus for the past 10 months. Now I don't know if it is the Zubsolv or something else. I am having a stomach endoscopy next month. No narcs... putting me to sleep. Am I wasting my time and money, or has anyone else experienced huge weight loss, constant nausea, some vomiting, and diarrhea, and feeling overall malaise?"

• Min...
• July 16, 2019

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "Ok, so here's my experience with Zubsolv. First, I was on Suboxone, and I didn't care for it. It tasted awful and didn't do much for me. Then I got switched to Zubsolv due to insurance, and I have to say, besides a little nausea here and there and the bad aftertaste of them, it's great. I've been off pain meds for over a year now, and I feel so much better. No more going through WDs for weeks 'cause I ran out of my meds early. I know there are people out there that say you can't say you are in recovery if you take Zubsolv, and I don't agree with that at all. I feel like I am in recovery, and I'm proud of myself for the first time in my life. Thank you, Zubsolv, for giving me my life back! I couldn't be happier being on Zubsolv because it works for me! I say give it a chance, it might just save your life like it has mine. I also have zero cravings, and that makes me very happy."

• Tru...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 7, 2019

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "Our experience has been an actual dream. Eventually, 8 mg made me sick as a dog. I went to 4 mg, same. By the last few months, I was taking a speck every day, mentally afraid because everyone swears it's the most intense withdrawal. I literally couldn’t stand the nausea anymore and discontinued usage 8 days ago. My partner is also experiencing a forced taper, if you will, and isn’t far behind me. I think he’s at a 16th of an 8 mg and feeling gross from that. I did have mild diarrhea. My legs aren’t fully restless but slightly, especially after any increase in exercise or exertion, and this was my first sober menstruation, which was impressively more painful than anything I’ve experienced. I am sleeping less deep and need less sleep, which I personally enjoy, as my opiate sleep is more like a coma. I believe that it’s different for everyone, but if you do the work and don’t take more than exactly the minimum you need, you can have a painless experience emotionally, physically, mentally."

• Kit...
• November 13, 2019

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I don’t know what happened, but I was excited about taking this. But the first day I had received the prescription late, so I took the required dose of 8mg/2mg. I felt good right away, but about 40 minutes later, I could feel something hit me - I couldn’t stop throwing up, had a horrible migraine headache, and I thought I was going to pass out, dizzy and confused. I could not walk straight. Sweating puddles, my hair was soaking wet. I had to call paramedics to make sure I wasn’t reacting badly to it. I was given 60 strips for under the tongue of film 8mg/2mg to be taken twice a day. I threw up for 8 hours and finally stopped. No sleep, I haven’t taken another dose. Horrible nightmare for me!!"

• Lov...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2020

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I was prescribed Tylenol 3 for a whole year after a back injury at work and under the care of a pain management specialist. I had a concern for how they were going to get me off of this drug once the spinal injections started to kick in while taking it. Their response - Tylenol 3 is not as addictive as other narcotics! Rubbish! Here I am, 3 years later. I didn’t want to take Tylenol 3 forever, I was having to take 10-12 pills a day just to feel normal. I then sought help and started Suboxone. I’ve been taking 2 of the 8 mg/2 mg for the past year and have felt somewhat normal again. My insurance decided that they wouldn’t cover it anymore and said Zubsolv would be the equivalent! RUBBISH AGAIN! I started taking the 5.7 tab twice a day, and within a day, I was in full withdrawal! Sweats, nausea, crying spells, anxiety! I felt HORRIBLE! I DO NOT RECOMMEND this rubbish to ANYONE! I’d rather pay out-of-pocket and fight the insurance than to feel like I did a few days ago!"

• Dac...
• July 6, 2019

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "Another family member and I are prescribed Sub strips by the same doctor. A couple of months ago, when we went to fill them, we noticed the packaging was different. The pharmacy insisted it was the same drug but a generic version. We both have had side effects. 1. We have to take double the dose. 2. We have both had vision problems that are scary as heck. 3. I have been getting nausea. Now, from my experience with companies such as SUN Pharma, where I received a rash from their Subutex, I attest that no matter what these companies tell you, they are screwing around with the formulations. I suggest if you are having side effects such as described, you ask your doctor to write on the script, 'No Sandoz.' This will force your pharmacy to order another brand."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 12, 2020

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "Updating my last review. The taste is disgusting, and I cannot take it without throwing up. Tried switching to Zubsolv, but as soon as the menthol coating dissolves, I start to gag. It was so bad, and my provider wasn’t taking me seriously, so I showed up to the clinic in active withdrawal to prove my point that I would rather detox on my own than continue to take this drug and vomit repeatedly for at least an hour. I’m on a really high dose, so it’s been ugly, but I just picked up a prescription for Subutex—hopefully, the taste will be bearable. If not, I’m going to have to receive a Sublocade injection once a month."

• Mau...
• November 14, 2016

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "My experience taking Suboxone was the complete opposite of what I thought it would be. I always viewed Suboxone as the lesser of two evils between methadone because Suboxone contains naloxone, so you technically can't get 'high.' Not that I have anything against people who choose methadone as their recovery route; I have actually tried methadone in the past to actually get high and, well... I succeeded, lol. When I started taking Suboxone, I got really bad side effects after the first month of taking it. I would severely sweat to the point I wanted to bash my head through a wall. It was so rough on my body. But my maintenance program doctor just said it was 'withdrawals' because when you take the pill every day, I guess you're technically withdrawing from the one you took the day before due to the long half-life on Suboxone. So his idea was to up my dose to 12 mg to see if the sweating would go away (I didn't see the logic in that idea too). Anyway, it didn't, so he tossed me some clonidine, which helped a little. But the side effects kept adding up, such as headaches, severe constipation to the point I had to use daily enemas (not normal), abdominal pains came too along with nausea and vomiting (every day). It just got to the point where my mind and body couldn't be on the medication anymore. I was on it for 7 long months, even trying to wean myself down on my own. That was a struggle too, seeing how the withdrawals from Suboxone are supposedly worse than heroin sickness, which my doctor and counselor kindly reminded me after I was already hooked. It was a messy time in my life. Suboxone gave me severe anxiety, which left me buying benzos off the street just to mellow me out. I went to a weekly Suboxone maintenance program on purpose. To get piss tested weekly and to have a doctor and counselor help me move forward. But instead, I felt I was moving 10 steps back. My only option to get off the Suboxone (which was my choice, obviously) was to get the vivitrol shot and have 3 bad days of sickness but be off Suboxone. It took me a week to build myself up to do it because I was terrified of how bad the sickness was going to be. Choosing the vivitrol shot had to be the best worst idea I have ever made. I did get violently sick after it, but it went away. Plus, my doctor who gave me the shot helped me out with some comfort meds, so it wasn't all that bad. That was in December 2015 that I received the shot and have been clean since. So my advice for any addict who's struggling on which route to take for recovery: just get the shot. They'll give comfort meds for the first couple of days, then after that, you'll be shackle-free from drugs. I'm telling ya, choose vivitrol if you need to detox. For others who take Suboxone for other reasons, such as pain or etc., power to you; but if y'all are struggling out there and want to get sober quick, vivitrol's the answer. Methadone and Suboxone will just make you sicker down the road."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 3, 2015

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "Prescribed Suboxone to treat chronic pain. Medication is very effective at treating pain - far better than opiates, anti-seizure meds, and antidepressants. Does cause some mouth tenderness and nausea. No mental status changes experienced while taking Suboxone (unlike opiates do). Suboxone provides a coupon card to cover my copay. Out-of-pocket expense is $0."

• Ter...
• January 12, 2017

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I was on Suboxone for about 5 years when I became pregnant. During my pregnancy, my doctor had me on Subutex, and then after my pregnancy, it was time to go back to Suboxone. My doctor gave me Bunavail instead. Like somebody else mentioned, it said it was 4.2 mg instead of 8, and my addict brain immediately did not like that. And when I first started it, I hated it. I would take a whole piece in my right cheek, and it barely touched my withdraws. I had to wait for it to melt, which takes forever, and then take another one. But one day I put it in my left cheek just to mix it up, and I was shocked that it worked! So well that I actually felt nauseous. Ever since, I've been using my left cheek and have had no problems, besides the time it takes to melt."

• ric...
• May 22, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I have been on Suboxone for 9 years. This medication saved my life and allowed me to be a father and good person again. Recently they switched to generic, company name Sandoz. It's horrible, I have been walking the withdrawal line since the second day, which is only because the Suboxone took that long to leave my system. I encourage everyone to please call the FDA and report this. I feel horrible, and it's never-ending! I am working with my doctor to find a solution to this, but I'm at a loss! I have had the mg dose raised from 16 to 20, but it does nothing! This is not the same medication under a different name, I have no idea what this stuff is. It may have a small amount of active medication, but not what it should, or the delivery system doesn't work. I'm no doctor, but it doesn't work. I was at a point in my life where I wanted to start weaning myself off of Suboxone, but now I'm on a higher dose, and that doesn't even work, and I'm still sick! Starting to fear relapse!"

• Mei...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 6, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I have tried a generic buprenorphine with naloxone before, and I don't recall the experience being this bad as it has been on Dr. Reddy's version. For 2 months, I've been on them and have had these other health issues: water retention causing ear infection and pneumonia, horrible headaches from fluid in my head and body. I have had 2 rounds of antibiotics and water pills. I have had lethargy, gained 35 lbs in 2 months. Moved, changed diet, watch symptoms closer. Working out at least every other day. Not getting better. I have noticed disturbing thoughts, depression. I also experienced withdrawal-like symptoms the first few days. I wanted this to work because the Suboxone brand has the monopoly, and the cost is more. I have not seen any other reviews with these symptoms. I might be allergic to an ingredient in it. The head pressure and nausea start an hour after I take it in the morning. It's like my head is filling up like a water balloon. Pointless to take a med that causes you to need three others...."

• Und...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 29, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I have been on Suboxone on and off for 13 years. I started out with the Suboxone tablets. Then had to swap doctors. Anyway, I found a new doctor and have been taking the Suboxone Film 12 mg/3 mg twice a day for at least 5 years. I finally got my life back with Suboxone and therapy. I went to get my prescription filled on 4/27/19. To my surprise, they gave me the generic films made by Sandoz. I was hesitant but thought I would give it a try. I took my first one of the generic on 4/28/19. I woke up on 4/29/19 and felt horrible. I was going through withdrawals. I was nauseous, had hot flashes, chills, leg pain, and was very weak. My sobriety is so important to me. It took time to earn back the trust I had lost with all my family and friends. So, when I woke up in withdrawal this morning, I was beyond upset. It felt like I had taken a placebo when, in fact, it was just the Sandoz generic buprenorphine and naloxone. This Sandoz generic needs to be taken off the market. Everyone's sobriety is at risk with this low-quality generic."

• Anonymous
• January 24, 2017

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "The taste is disgusting. I was on Suboxone for years, now have to take this via my insurance. I now have chronic stomach pain and nausea, and like others have said, it barely stays in your system. I feel sick every morning until I take it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 13, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "Started these generics today, they are terrible as I do not like the feeling I'm getting from it. What is going on? It's so hard to get my regular meds anymore. I guess it's time to get off them, so scared."

• Bab...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 27, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I have been on Suboxone for a few years now, and it has worked wonders. I finally have my life back. I can wake up, take my medicine, and go about my day. This past month, my pharmacist gave me the generic strips because my insurance stopped paying for the name brand. They do not work the same at all!! I have always been able to wake up and take a whole strip, which lasted me just about the whole day. Now, when I take the generic buprenorphine with naloxone, a few hours later, I’m feeling like I haven’t taken anything at all. I’m nauseous, sweating, have diarrhea, and shaking, which don’t go away unless I take more. Which messes me up, because I only get 60 a month, and I’m needing to take more, but they have to last me a month."

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2018

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I hate this medicine so much. I was a heroin addict for two and a half years, and I stopped by taking Suboxone. I’ve been taking Suboxone for about seven months, and it worked perfectly fine. But then I lost half my script, and when I went to the doctor to figure out what to do, he said he would prescribe me Zubsolv for the remaining amount of time because he said the pharmacy wouldn’t prescribe me Suboxone again. Zubsolv has been making me feel like I’m wired, but not in a good way, giving me horrible headaches, nausea, and making my BP go up so high, and I don’t know why it’s doing this. I still have a week to go taking it, and this is literally pure torture."

• Ama...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2023

For Opioid Use Disorder "I had stage 4 cancer, and it’s been a long ride with treatment and pain. I was told this would make my life better and to give it a chance. Ten days later, I’m throwing up, my pain is miserable, and my head hasn’t stopped hurting. I was told this was a wonder drug. No one told me how bad it could be, and apparently, this labels you as a drug addict if you were to need pain meds for something in the future. Does anyone else have serious chronic pain that was put on this and was successful in going another route?"