Buprenorphine
About
Buprenorphine belongs to a class of drugs called 'opioid analgesic' primarily used to treat opioid addiction (narcotics) like morphine, heroin, etc. In some cases, it is also used to treat, prevent and treat moderate to severe pain. Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person's brain and behaviour and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication.
Buprenorphine contains 'Buprenorphine', an opioid partial agonist-antagonists that prevent withdrawal symptoms in patients who stop receiving opioid drugs by producing similar effects to these drugs. It has been approved for the treatment of narcotic-use disorders. A combination of buprenorphine and naloxone is prescribed for use in the treatment of opioid dependence. It also provides pain relief by acting on specific receptors in the brain and helps in relieving pain.
Buprenorphine will be administered by a trained healthcare professional. Hence, do not self-administer. This medicine may cause certain side effects such as dry mouth, vomiting, blurred vision, constipation, dizziness, tiredness and injection site reactions. Most of these side effects of Buprenorphine do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
Buprenorphine should be avoided if you are allergic to it. Do not use Buprenorphine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, as it may cause adverse effects on the baby. This medicine is not recommended for children below 18 years of age. Buprenorphine is a habit-forming drug, and there is a risk of dependence on Buprenorphine. Hence, do not stop receiving Buprenorphine without consulting a doctor as it may cause withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, increased heart rate, tremors or general unwell feeling. Buprenorphine may decrease fertility in men and women. Do not consume alcohol with Buprenorphine as it may increase the risk of side effects. Inform your doctor if you have respiratory disorders, heart diseases, high blood pressure, and liver or kidney disease before starting treatment with Buprenorphine.
Uses of Buprenorphine
Medicinal Benefits
The Buprenorphine contains Buprenorphine as a substitution (replacement) treatment in patients addicted to opioid drugs (heroin and morphine, etc.). It prevents or reduces the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms experienced when addicts stop using opioid drugs. It also provides pain relief by acting on specific receptors in the brain and helps in relieving pain. Compared to other opioid analgesics like methadone, Buprenorphine has the advantage of having less sedation (sleepiness), decreased respiratory depression, decreased risk of diversion, fewer withdrawal symptoms and lower risk of toxicity at higher doses.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Buprenorphine
- Weakness
- Nervousness
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Orthostatic hypotension (a sudden dip of blood pressure on standing)
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sweating
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Please do not stop receiving Buprenorphine suddenly, as it may cause withdrawal symptoms. Avoid frequent or high doses as it may lead to addiction. If you are known to be allergic to Buprenorphine or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Do not use Buprenorphine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, as it may cause adverse effects on the baby. Buprenorphine is not recommended for children below 18 years of age. Avoid consuming alcohol with Buprenorphine as it may increase the risk of side effects. Do not use this medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor (antidepressants) in the past 14 days, as a dangerous drug interaction could occur. Buprenorphine should be used with extreme caution in patients who have a history of alcoholism or drug abuse. Inform your doctor if you have severe breathing problems, asthma, delirium tremens (confusion and shaking after stopping drinking alcohol), hallucinations (seeing and hearing things that are not there), kidney or liver problems, head injury or brain disease, low blood pressure, urinary disorders (especially linked to enlarged prostate), thyroid problems, adrenocortical disorder (Addison’s disease), depression or other conditions that are treated with antidepressants.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Buprenorphine may have interaction with benzodiazepines (diazepam, temazepam ), pain killers (pentazocine, nalbuphine, codeine, morphine), anti-depressants (citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, duloxetine, venlafaxine, amitriptyline), antihistamine (promethazine, chlorphenamine), blood thinners (warfarin), anti-anxiety drugs (alprazolam), fits related medicines (carbamazepine), medicines used to prevent nausea (ondansetron), antifungal drugs (ketoconazole), antibiotic (ciprofloxacin, erythromycin), anticancer drugs (ceritinib, lapatinib), immunosuppressants (fingolimod), antipsychotics (droperidol), and HIV/AIDS drugs (saquinavir).
Drug-Food Interaction: Buprenorphine may interact with grapefruit juice. Therefore, avoid grapefruit juice intake with Buprenorphine as it may increase Buprenorphine levels in the body. Also, avoid St. John's wort (antidepressants plant), and alcohol consumption while receiving Buprenorphine as it may increase the risk of adverse effects such as drowsiness, dizziness and difficulty concentrating.
Drug-Disease Interaction: People with asthma or any other breathing problems, kidney problems, liver problems, head injury or brain disease, low blood pressure, urinary disorders (especially linked to enlarged prostate), thyroid problems, adrenocortical disorder (Addison’s disease), depression should consult a doctor before receiving Buprenorphine.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeBuprenorphine may cause dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, or impaired thinking in some people. Alcohol consumption may even worsen these effects. Hence, do not consume alcohol while on treatment with this medicine.
Pregnancy
unsafeBuprenorphine is not recommended during pregnancy as it may cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the newborn. Hence, inform your doctor before administering Buprenorphine if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
unsafeIt may be unsafe to use during breastfeeding as it passes into breastmilk and may cause sleepiness and decreased heart rate in your infant. It is not recommended for use in breastfeeding. Hence, if you are breastfeeding, inform your doctor before receiving Buprenorphine. Your doctor may suggest you stop feeding while on treatment with this medicine.
Driving
unsafeBuprenorphine may cause dizziness, blurred vision or drowsiness in some people. It is an offence to drive if Buprenorphine affects you. Therefore, avoid driving if you feel drowsy, dizzy or experience vision problems after administration of Buprenorphine.
Liver
cautionIf you have a pre-existing or a history of liver disease, inform your doctor before receiving Buprenorphine. Your doctor may adjust the dose of this medicine or prescribe a suitable alternative based on your condition.
Kidney
cautionIf you have a pre-existing or a history of kidney disease, inform your doctor before receiving Buprenorphine. Your doctor may adjust the dose of this medicine or prescribe a suitable alternative based on your condition.
Children
unsafeBuprenorphine is not recommended for use in children below 18 years of age as the safety and effectiveness have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Do regular exercise such as swimming or walking.
- Drink plenty of water while on treatment with Buprenorphine to avoid dry mouth.
- Maintain a fibre-rich diet and eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to avoid constipation while receiving Buprenorphine.
- Avoid consumption of alcohol and quit smoking.
Special Advise
- Do not receive Buprenorphine for a prolonged time, as it may lead to mental or physical dependence on Buprenorphine.
- To avoid getting addicted to this drug, use it only in prescribed quantities and as directed by your doctor. Do not self-medicate.
- Buprenorphine causes drowsiness. Avoid doing activities that require your complete focus and attention, like driving when on this drug.
- An abrupt stoppage of Buprenorphine can lead to significant withdrawal symptoms. Always discuss with your doctor about decreasing the dosage before completely stopping its usage.
- Avoid consuming alcohol while on this medication, as it can lead to dangerous side effects.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Drug addiction: It is also called substance use disorder. It is a psychological condition that affects a person's brain and behaviour and leads to an inability to control legal or illegal drug or medication use. Opioid analgesics, such as morphine or diamorphine (heroin), are often subject to abuse, leading to dependence (addiction). If you are addicted to these drugs, you need a regular dose to feel ‘normal’. Otherwise, you will develop withdrawal symptoms within a day or so of the last dose. Withdrawal symptoms include sweating, feeling hot and cold, runny eyes and nose, feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, poor sleep, and just feeling awful.
Pain: Pain is an unpleasant emotion brought on by an illness or injury. Acute (short-term) or chronic pain both exist (long-term). It may be widespread (body-wide aches) or localised (pain in a specific body area). Since different people have varying pain tolerance levels, pain is highly subjective. Even though pain is uncomfortable and inconvenient, it can provide clues as to what is wrong with the body. Cramps, headaches, bone fractures, stomach pain, arthritis (swelling of one or more joints), muscle strain or overuse, cuts, the flu, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome are a few conditions that can cause pain (muscle pain with stiffness and tenderness).
FAQs
Buprenorphine consists of Buprenorphine is an opioid partial agonist. It prevents withdrawal symptoms in patients who stop receiving opioid drugs by producing similar effects to these drugs. It also provides pain relief by acting on specific receptors in the brain that change how your body feels and responds to pain.
Yes, Buprenorphine may cause withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, feeling hot and cold, runny eyes and nose, feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, poor sleep, and just feeling awful. Therefore, if you experience any difficulty while receiving Buprenorphine, do not stop administration suddenly and consult your doctor so that the dose may be reduced gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Chronic use of opioids may cause reduced fertility (ability to have children) in females and males of reproductive potential. It is not known whether these effects on fertility are reversible. However, it is essential to talk to your doctor before starting treatment with Buprenorphine if you think you may want to have a baby in the future.
No, you are not recommended to use Buprenorphine with antidepressants (medicines used to treat depression), and antipsychotics (medicines used to treat bipolar disorder and psychosis) as co-administration of these medicines with Buprenorphine may cause life-threatening respiratory depression and death have occurred. However, please consult a doctor before receiving Buprenorphine with other medicines.
Yes, Buprenorphine may cause addiction, especially if used for a prolonged time. Therefore, Buprenorphine should be given only for a short duration under strict medical supervision, particularly to patients susceptible to drug abuse. Buprenorphine should be administered only as advised by a doctor as overuse, or misuse of Buprenorphine can lead to overdose or death.
