Suboxone Overdosage

In the event of overdose, general supportive measures should be instituted, including close monitoring of respiratory and cardiac status of the patient. The major symptom requiring intervention is respiratory depression, which could lead to respiratory arrest and death. If the patient vomits, care must be taken to prevent aspiration of the vomitus.
Treatment: Symptomatic treatment of respiratory depression and standard intensive care measures should be implemented. A patent airway and assisted or controlled ventilation must be assured. The patient should be transferred to an environment within which full resuscitation facilities are available.
Use of an opioid antagonist (eg, naloxone) is recommended, despite the modest effect it may have in reversing the respiratory symptoms of buprenorphine compared with its effects on full agonist opioid agents.
The long duration of action of Suboxone should be taken into consideration when determining the length of treatment and medical surveillance needed to reverse the effects of an overdose.