Can suboxone affect your blood O2 saturation level?
Yes, Suboxone can affect your blood O2 saturation levels. Suboxone, used as a treatment for opioid addiction can cause respiratory depression, which manifests by dangerously slow breathing or even a stop of respiration. In both cases, Suboxone can decrease blood oxygen levels.
The opioid substance that is in Suboxone is called buprenorphine. One study compared the O2 saturations of this substance with morphine. The results showed that more than 70% of the patients who took buprenorphine had at least one episode of blood O2 desaturation [1].
How can you monitor your O2 saturation when taking Suboxone?
To monitor your O2 saturation when taking Suboxone, you can use a finger pulse oximeter, a common and reliable method. This device measures blood oxygenation by blue light reflection. You only need to softly clip the oximeter on your finger [2, 3, 4].
Pulse oximeters have a sensitivity of more than 90% and can detect a small decrease in O2 saturation with a specificity of 90% [4]. However, the oximeter results can be affected by factors like body movements, arterial pulse, and some diseases [5].
Another method is ear oximetry [2]. However, this technique may be imprecise in severely decreased blood saturation [6].
...
What are normal O2 saturation levels?
O2 saturation is defined as the percentage of hemoglobin bound to oxygen in blood. It is a key physiological measurement of blood's oxygen delivery function and its availability in the blood for other tissues.
Normal O2 saturation levels range from 95 to 100% and are the same for adults and children [8, 9, 4]. Interestingly, the normal value of blood O2 saturation is lower in people living at high altitudes [8].
When should I seek medical attention when O2 saturation decreases?
Generally, it is abnormal when your O2 saturation falls below 95%. You should seek medical attention, if your O2 saturation falls below this number [9]. Levels below 90% need instant medical attention and may require oxygen supplementation [9].
In severe cases when blood oxygen levels drop below 85%, the doctor in the emergency unit may put you on a mechanical ventilator [9].
If your oxygen saturation drops significantly, mechanical ventilation may be required [9]. However, whether it will be used depends on many factors, such as neurological tests and the doctors' final decision.
You must know that O2 saturation below 70% can be life-threatening [9].
When reporting to a doctor, always mention any other symptoms you may experience with the low blood oxygen level. Symptoms associated with low O2 saturation include:
- weakness,
- headaches,
- confusion,
- shortness of breath,
- bluish coloration on the lips, fingernails, and skin [10].
What are other side effects of Suboxone?
Some side effects caused by Suboxone are:
- nausea and vomiting,
- insomnia,
- constipation,
- headaches,
- swelling of hands or legs,
- mouth redness and burning,
- excessive sweating,
- partial body numbness [11].
Among the rare but serious adverse effects are liver damage, adrenal insufficiency, and central nervous system depression [11].