Suboxone: Effects on Menstrual Cycle

[rrfriedman]

I've been taking Suboxone for just over a year (started mid-June '08; at most 8mg/day, currently 4mg/day) and my menstrual cycle is all over the place.  Last winter, I had 3 periods with 14 days and 10 days between them; all three were fairly heavy, lasting around 5 days. Now, I haven't had a single period since February, and there's no way I have any STD's or am pregnant save by immaculate conception. My weight hasn't changed much one way or the other. I'm 21 and I've never been all that regular, but this seems extreme. Could it be because of the Suboxone? I'm also on Lexapro and Concerta. Should I be worried about this?

[mtgoat911]

my period began to regulate itself when i was around a year clean off sub., i think all opiates can do that

[J T Junig, MD PhD]

Suboxone has 'buprenorphine', an opiate that has been around for 30 years with partial agonist activity.  The effects are pretty consistent with other opiate effects;  the effects on cravings are caused partially by taking it at a very high dose, which is the case with Suboxone.  I have not seen effects on the menstrual cycle beyond cases like yours, where you never know for certain which med is at fault, or if none are, and instead the person has a hormonal imbalance of some sort.  I recommend you ask your GYN to work it up, and try to keep the doc from blaming the Suboxone.

In general, docs and patients tend to blame a med for side effects if they feel guilty or uncomfortable about the med... in your case, I would probably suspect the SSRI before the opiate.  But polycystic ovaries is probably more likely than effects from ANY of the medications.