No, you should not take Percocet while on Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone).
Buprenorphine attaches more strongly to opioid receptors, so it’s likely you won’t feel euphoria or other effects if you take Percocet while on Suboxone.[1] If you take high enough doses, however, the combination could be dangerous.
Always disclose your use of Suboxone to any medical provider before they prescribe you any medication. If you are having surgery or have an injury, your doctor can create alternative pain management plans for you that don’t involve opioid painkillers like Percocet.
Taking Percocet while on Suboxone can pose serious dangers. In some instances, you may simply not feel the effects of Percocet due to buprenorphine’s affinity for opioid receptors. In other cases, the combination could trigger dangerous symptoms, including overdose.
Both medications may depress the central nervous system and trigger respiratory depression. Taking both together increases your risk of life-threatening complications like slow breathing, unconsciousness and overdose.[2]
These are some of the specific dangers of taking Percocet and Suboxone together:[2,3]
When both opioids interact, they can significantly suppress breathing by suppressing respiratory function, which causes breathing to slow. As a result, your body’s ability to take in oxygen decreases drastically.
The combination of Percocet and Suboxone may result in profound drowsiness, confusion or unconsciousness. Prompt medical attention is needed.
As soon as Percocet and Suboxone are combined, the risk of overdose increases substantially. Opioid overdose can cause respiratory depression and cardiac complications, and it can be fatal.
Management of pain in people with OUD represents a complex situation that must be managed on an as-needed and individualized basis.
In some cases, such as following surgery or significant injury, opioid painkillers may be prescribed to someone on Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT). However, these situations are handled with extreme care.
It’s often recommended that people continue on MAT as prescribed. Buprenorphine or methadone may reduce their need for opioid painkillers.[4] However, it often isn’t enough to control acute pain.
If opioids are needed to manage pain, the lowest effective dose should be taken. Even though patients with OUD are already familiar with the risks of taking opioid painkillers, they should be further counseled on these risks.[5]
Generally, alternative pain management techniques are recommended for those on Suboxone. Opioids are considered a last resort to manage pain that cannot be otherwise controlled.[5]
Non-opioid pain management options are preferred for those on Suboxone. Here are some commonly used alternatives to consider:[6-9]
Don’t ever take Percocet while on Suboxone without consulting your doctor. Combining these drugs without medical guidance could lead to potentially life-threatening symptoms.
Never take Percocet that isn’t prescribed to you personally. In addition to health risks, such as overdose, this can trigger a relapse back to opioid misuse, which can progress to active opioid use disorder (OUD) if not managed.
Speak with a healthcare provider who is familiar with your medical history, including your past misuse of opioids. They can help you make an informed and safe decision about the best way to manage your pain. In most cases, alternative pain management strategies will be recommended.
Peter Manza, PhD received his BA in Psychology and Biology from the University of Rochester and his PhD in Integrative Neuroscience at Stony Brook University. He is currently working as a research scientist in Washington, DC. His research focuses on the role of the brain dopamine system in substance use disorders and in aging. He also studies brain function in obesity and eating disorders.
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