Suboxone contains buprenorphine, an opioid medication. If you quit taking the drug suddenly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms like nausea, goosebumps and sore muscles. Researchers say these symptoms may only last a few days.[1] But they can increase your relapse risks.
It’s not smart to quit Suboxone cold turkey. Instead, talk to your doctor about your desire to stop using the medication. Together, you can develop a tapering schedule to help you ease off the therapy safely.
One of the risks of stopping Suboxone cold turkey is that the withdrawal symptoms may be so unpleasant that it pushes people to use other opioids to alleviate the symptoms, leading to relapse. Elena Hill, MD, MPH
It’s not physically dangerous for most people to quit Suboxone cold turkey. Researchers describe symptoms as “mild,” and they tend to go away within a few days.[1] But stopping so quickly can dramatically increase your relapse risk.
Your Suboxone withdrawal symptoms come with drug cravings. You may be tempted to return to stronger opioids to make the discomfort and cravings go away. This often begins the cycle of drug misuse again, pushing someone back into their opioid use disorder (OUD).
The discomfort you’ll feel can vary by your dosage strength. Using high Suboxone amounts can mean stronger withdrawal symptoms and higher risks.[2] And since Suboxone stays in your system for days, your recovery can take a long time.
Doctors recommend tapering your Suboxone dose rather than quitting the drug cold turkey.[3] A taper allows your brain to adjust to the lack of Suboxone, so you won’t feel overwhelming withdrawal symptoms or drug cravings.
Taper schedules can last anywhere from 7 to 28 days.[3] Some people need longer time frames, and others need shorter schedules. Your doctor can guide your progress based on the following factors:
A well-designed plan administered by your doctor can help you stop using Suboxone safely.
While discontinuing Suboxone cold turkey isn’t medically dangerous, it can still be extremely unpleasant and uncomfortable.[1] Cold-turkey approaches can cause people to relapse into using opioids to make the symptoms abate.
One solution is to taper slowly. The following table can help you understand the differences between these approaches.
TaperingQuitting Cold Turkey Symptom severity LowModerate Relapse risks LowModerate to highTime to complete 7–28 daysSeveral (uncomfortable) days Ability to work HighLow Considered safe?YesNo
Tapering your Suboxone dose means gradually reducing your dose over a predetermined time until you are ultimately no longer taking this medication. Some people need 7 days, and others need 28.[3] Some people benefit from even longer tapering times.[4]
The most common way to taper is to decrease your dose by 2 mg to 4 mg every week or so.[5]
Your taper schedule depends on the following:
Many people remain on Suboxone indefinitely, and it is considered perfectly safe to do so.[6] However, if you decide to discontinue Suboxone, talk to your doctor about a tapering strategy to meet your specific goals and needs.
Suboxone is a mild opioid, so the withdrawal symptoms from Suboxone are similar, although usually less severe than withdrawal from other opioids like oxycodone or heroin.
Common symptoms include the following:[1]
The timeline for Suboxone withdrawal varies. If you choose a tapered approach, your withdrawal side effects will last as long as it takes to complete your schedule. Choose a cold-turkey approach, and your symptoms could persist for several days or longer.
Suboxone withdrawal can be very uncomfortable, but this natural process represents healing. Your brain cells are learning to function properly without the drug’s presence. Your self-care could make the process less uncomfortable.
Good at-home steps to take include the following:
We’ve compiled some of the most common questions about quitting Suboxone cold turkey.
Is it dangerous to quit Suboxone cold turkey? It’s not physically dangerous to quit your medication suddenly. But this approach can increase your relapse risks. Doctors usually recommend a tapered approach instead.
Is it better to taper off Suboxone or quit cold turkey? It’s best to work with your doctor and taper your dose. You’ll be more comfortable, and your relapse risks will be lower.
How can you reduce the symptoms of Suboxone withdrawal? An appropriate tapering schedule should not cause overwhelming symptoms that interfere with your quality of life. If you feel very sick while trying to quit, talk to your doctor about adjusting your tapering schedule.
What are the side effects of quitting Suboxone cold turkey? People who quit Suboxone cold turkey experience opioid withdrawal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, aching muscles, goosebumps and anxiety.
What method of quitting Suboxone do doctors recommend? Doctors recommend tapering your dose rather than quitting cold turkey.[3]
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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