What is Suboxone? Web sleuths speculate possible role of drug in Matthew Perry's hot tub death amid

Publish date: 2024-05-08

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: As Matthew Perry was laid to rest at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles on Friday, November 3, a new information about a prescription drug named Suboxone emerged online. The drug used to treat narcotic addiction was something the 'FRIENDS' actor allegedly took to as part of his addiction treatment plan.

A report by recently stated  that an ingredient in Suboxone can have "life-threatening side effects" if ingested while "taking long baths in hot water." 

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The medicine is reportedly prescribed to recovering drug addicts to help reduce their dependence on opioids. As the information made the rounds online, web sleuths were quick to speculate about the possible alleged role of the prescription drug in Perry's death. 

The beloved sitcom star was found dead in a hot tub in his Los Angeles home on October 28. While his autopsy was completed after his sudden and tragic demise, Perry's cause of death was "deferred" amid pending toxicology reports. 

Suboxone: Uses and side effects that may have cause Matthew Perry's death

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Suboxone is a type of prescription drug that reportedly contains a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, as per Drugs.com. 

While buprenorphine is an opioid medication, which is sometimes called a narcotic, naloxone reportedly blocks the effects of opioid medication.

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The latter also helps with pain relief or feelings of well-being that can lead to opioid abuse in the first place, the site noted.

Suboxone is reportedly used to treat treat opioid use disorder, which is the clinical term for narcotic (opiate) addiction. 

Medications like Suboxone are reportedly one part of the treatment plan for people suffering from addiction and also includes counseling and behavioral therapy for substance use disorders.

According to , some of the common side effects of Suboxone include, headache, diarrhea, constipation, nausea and vomiting. 

It can also allegedly cause dizziness and fainting, problems with concentration, irregular heartbeat, insomnia, drowsiness, blurry vision and back pain.

Speculation surrounding the possible role of Suboxone in Matthew Perry's death 

Several web sleuths took to social media to share their theories about the possible role of Suboxone in Perry's death.

"Wait a minute. Matthew Perry was very open about the fact that he took Suboxone to help with his treatment. Wonder if there was a reaction between the medicine and being in the hot tub for a prolonged period time," wrote X user @901Lulu, who has 47K followers on the platform. 

"BREAKING: DID THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT FOUND IN SUBOXONE CONTRIBUTE TO MATTHEW PERRY’S DEATH? “An ingredient in the drug he was apparently taking, Suboxone, can have 'life-threatening side effects' if ingested while 'taking long baths in hot water,'" posted @KratomGuyShow. 

"Dizziness and fainting are some of the side effects of taking Suboxone. It could be that Matthew Perry felt dizzy slipped and fell under the water in the hit tub and drowned," one alleged. 

"Matthew Perry was on Suboxone when he died. Getting in the hot tub is something he shouldn't have done. A video of him talking of being on it, he said MDs said he should be on it for at least a year, maybe for life. The report said it's hard to get off of when being used for Opioid addiction. Huh. Really," another said. 

One wrote, "I'm an addiction clinician. Yes, Suboxone, although sometimes used to treat opioid addiction, is still an opioid narcotic. It can slow down or speed up heart rate, suppress lung function, cause extreme drowsiness, and halt the central nervous system."

"You shouldn't drive equipment or machinery on Suboxone & nobody should engage in water activities while using this. Please note, I don't know if Matthew Perry was actively using this when in the hot tub, but if so, that could be a factor in his death," they added. 

Wait a minute. Matthew Perry was very open about the fact that he took Suboxone to help with his treatment. Wonder if there was a reaction between the medicine and being in the hot tub for a prolonged period time. 🥺

— Rose (@901Lulu) November 2, 2023

 

BREAKING: DID THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT FOUND IN SUBOXONE CONTRIBUTE TO MATTHEW PERRY’S DEATH?

“An ingredient in the drug he was apparently taking, Suboxone, can have "life-threatening side effects" if ingested while "taking long baths in hot water."

— The Kratom Guy Show (@KratomGuyShow) November 2, 2023

 

Dizziness and fainting are some of the side effects of taking Suboxone. It could be that Matthew Perry felt dizzy slipped and fell under the water in the hit tub and drowned

— 🎭 Sändra Cöle 🎭 (@Sandra_Cole44) November 2, 2023

 

Matthew Perry was on Suboxone when he died. Getting in the hot tub is something he shouldn't have done. A video of him talking of being on it, he said MDs said he should be on it for at least a year, maybe for life. The report said it's hard to get off of when being used for ...

— Mrs. D Wirtel (@DWirtel) November 1, 2023

 

I'm an addiction clinician. Yes, Suboxone, although sometimes used to treat opioid addiction, is still an opioid narcotic. It can slow down or speed up heart rate, suppress lung function, cause extreme drowsiness, and halt the central nervous system. You shouldn't drive ⬇️

— _M❤️MTIFA 🌊💉🇺🇸🇺🇦🏀 (@ArtTherapy73) November 3, 2023

 

2/ equipment or machinery on Suboxone & nobody should engage in water activities while using this. Please note, I don't know if Matthew Perry was actively using this when in the hot tub, but if so, that could be a factor in his death.

— _M❤️MTIFA 🌊💉🇺🇸🇺🇦🏀 (@ArtTherapy73) November 3, 2023

 

While some users believed the possible role of Suboxone in Perry's death, a few others refused to connect the two. 

"Wow! ⁦@InsideEdition this is absolutely dangerous and irresponsible speculation on the role of Suboxone on Matthew Perry’s Death. Not to mention stigmatizing for people using medication to treat OUD. Do better!" one said. 

"Please, please, try to be honest and not disrespect Matthew Perry for the sake of your obsession. You cannot blame suboxone/buprenorphine for this. He didn’t heed the warnings," another added. 

One said, "As a Suboxone user, unless he hadn't been on it very long, I doubt it. Once you build a tolerance, subs are more a brainwave thing and less body. Does that mean he still couldn't have gotten lethargic and fallen asleep or something, possibly. 1/2"

"2/2 knowing Suboxone as I do, I still highly doubt there was a direct connection between it, the hot tub, and his death. More likely what happened is he got his blood pumping from the pickleball game and had a heart attack. We will have to wait for toxicology 100%" they added. 

While another mentioned, "Thank you for saying this. Lots of people guessing and speculating when they have no clue. I was on it for 5 years. I think it was definitely a combination of things."

Wow! ⁦⁩ this is absolutely dangerous and irresponsible speculation on the role of Suboxone on Matthew Perry’s Death. Not to mention stigmatizing for people using medication to treat OUD. Do better!

— Katie McNabb, MSN, RN (@KCMcNabb) November 3, 2023

 

Please, please, try to be honest and not disrespect Matthew Perry for the sake of your obsession. You cannot blame suboxone/buprenorphine for this. He didn’t heed the warnings.

— Shelley Latin (@zorapanina) November 3, 2023

 

As a Suboxone user, unless he hadn't been on it very long, I doubt it. Once you build a tolerance, subs are more a brainwave thing and less body. Does that mean he still couldn't have gotten lethargic and fallen asleep or something, possibly. 1/2

— The Chosen One ✌️🤟 (@Bspapa360) November 2, 2023

 

2/2 knowing Suboxone as I do, I still highly doubt there was a direct connection between it, the hot tub, and his death. More likely what happened is he got his blood pumping from the pickleball game and had a heart attack. We will have to wait for toxicology 100%

— The Chosen One ✌️🤟 (@Bspapa360) November 2, 2023

 

Thank you for saying this. Lots of people guessing and speculating when they have no clue. I was on it for 5 years. I think it was definitely a combination of things.

— RayeBerries (@RayeBerries) November 2, 2023

 

What did Matthew Perry's initial toxicology reports say? 

While an in-depth of analysis of Perry's toxicology report and cause of death is yet to arrive, initial test results showed that his death was not the result of a fentanyl or meth overdose.

Law enforcement sources told that they ran a less-in-depth test on Perry which revealed he did not have fentanyl or meth in his system.

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However, more in-depth tests are still being conducted as part of toxicology to analyze whether the actor had any other illegal drugs present in his blood and if the levels of any prescription medications were present at harmful level. 

As per the publication, the additional test results can take anywhere from 4-6 months, following which the coroner will determine Perry's official cause and manner of death.

No official test reports have also reported about the presence of Suboxone in Perry's system and the possible role of the prescription drug in his death is only a speculation at the time of publication.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

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