Buprenorphine (Buprenorphine Hydrochloride) - Summary

BUPRENORPHINE SUMMARY

BUPRENORPHINE
HYDROCHLORIDE
INJECTION

Buprenorphine Hydrochloride Injection is a narcotic under the Controlled Substances Act due to its chemical derivation from thebaine.

Buprenorphine HCl injection is indicated for the relief of moderate to severe pain.

See all Buprenorphine indications & dosage >>

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Media Articles Related to Buprenorphine

Suboxone Maker Pulls Pills in Favor of Film
Source: MedPage Today Product Alert [2012.09.25]
The buprenorphine-naloxone combination product (Suboxone) in sublingual tablet form will soon be pulled from the U.S. market because its child-resistant packaging isn't effective enough.

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Published Studies Related to Buprenorphine

Analgesia after feline ovariohysterectomy under midazolam-medetomidine-ketamine anaesthesia with buprenorphine or butorphanol, and carprofen or meloxicam: a prospective, randomised clinical trial. [2012]
One hundred female cats undergoing routine ovariohysterectomy under midazolam-medetomidine-ketamine anaesthesia were included in a blinded, randomised, prospective clinical study to compare postoperative analgesia produced by four analgesic drug combinations given preoperatively (n = 25 per group)...

Effect of buprenorphine dose on treatment outcome. [2012]
The goal of this meta-analysis is to provide evidence based information about proper dosing for buprenorphine maintenance treatment to improve treatment outcome. To be selected for the review and inclusion in the meta-analysis, articles had to be randomized, controlled, or double-blind clinical trials, with buprenorphine as the study drug; the length of buprenorphine maintenance treatment had to be 3 weeks or longer; doses of buprenorphine had to be clearly stated; outcome measures had to include retention rates in buprenorphine treatment; outcome measures had to include illicit opioid use based on analytical determination of drugs of abuse in urine samples as outcome variables; and outcome measures had to include illicit cocaine use based on analytical determination of drugs of abuse in urine samples as outcome variables.

Sublingual buprenorphine in acute pain management: a double-blind randomized clinical trial. [2012]
bone fracture... CONCLUSION: For adults with acute fractures, buprenorphine 0.4 mg sublingually is

Buprenorphine 5, 10 and 20 mug/h Transdermal Patch: A Review of its Use in the Management of Chronic Non-Malignant Pain. [2011.12.24]
This article reviews the pharmacology, therapeutic efficacy and tolerability profile of the 7-day lower-dose (5, 10 and 20 mug/h) buprenorphine transdermal patch (BuTrans(R), Norspan(R)) in the management of chronic non-malignant pain, with a focus on European labelling for the drug... It also has favourable pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, which have beneficial clinical implications, most notably the convenience of once-weekly administration and no need for dosage adjustments in the elderly or those with compromised renal function, making it an opioid of choice in these patients, and a useful therapeutic option overall in the management of chronic non-malignant pain.

Results of a pilot randomized controlled trial of buprenorphine for opioid dependent women in the criminal justice system. [2011.12.15]
AIMS: Recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of both methadone and buprenorphine when used with opioid dependent men transitioning from prison to the community, but no studies have been conducted with women in the criminal justice (CJ) system. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of buprenorphine for relapse prevention among opioid dependent women in the CJ system transitioning back to the community... CONCLUSIONS: Women in the CJ system who received buprenorphine prior to release from a treatment facility had fewer opiate positive UDS through the 12 weeks of treatment compared to women receiving placebo. Initiating buprenorphine in a controlled environment prior to release appears to be a viable strategy to reduce opiate use when transitioning back to the community. Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Clinical Trials Related to Buprenorphine

Preference for Subutex® (Buprenorphine) Versus Suboxone® (Buprenorphin/Naloxone) in Opioid Dependent Patients on Subutex (Study P05094)(COMPLETED) [Completed]
This study is designed to determine if opioid dependent subjects who are already receiving Subutex prefer the Suboxone tablet over the Subutex tablet after switching from Subutex to Suboxone. Subjects who are selected to participate in this study will continue their prescribed dose of Subutex (buprenorphin 2 to 16 mg daily) for the first two days of the study (Day 1 and Day 2) then switch to and receive an equivalent dose of Suboxone (buprenorphine 2 to 16 mg daily) for the last 3 days of the study (Day 3, Day 4 and Day 5). The Day 5 Visit will be the subject's last study visit. Upon completing the study, subjects will continue their pre-study prescribed dosage of Subutex.

Pharmacokinetic Interactions Between Buprenorphine and Tipranavir/Ritonavir [Completed]
The main purpose of this study is to examine the effect of tipranavir combined with ritonavir, medications for the treatment of HIV-infection, on buprenorphine/naloxone (BUP) in people who have been receiving the same dose of buprenorphine/naloxone for at least 3 weeks before study entry.

Buprenorphine for the Treatment of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome [Recruiting]
Neonatal abstinence syndrome is a disease that affects children who were exposed to opioid drugs prior to birth. Commonly used treatments at present include morphine or tincture of opium. Buprenorphine is a drug used in adults to treat narcotic dependence, but has not been used for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. This trial is designed to see if the use of sublingual (under the tongue) buprenorphine is able to be used safely and easily in newborns with the neonatal abstinence syndrome. Secondary goals will be to see if treatment with buprenorphine is associated shorter stays in the hospital and fewer days of treatment than the use of standard therapy. Another secondary goal will be to understand buprenorphine concentration in the blood of babies treated with the drug (this is called "pharmacokinetics").

Buprenorphine Maintenance vs. Detoxification in Prescription Opioid Dependence
The aim of the study is to determine whether buprenorphine maintenance versus detoxification using buprenorphine, in prescription opioid dependent patients receiving primary care management and drug counseling in an office-based setting, leads to decreased illicit opioid use.

Effectiveness of Buprenorphine/Naloxone in Reducing Intravenous Buprenorphine Misuse in France ("RIME") [Recruiting]
Patients who admit to using buprenorphine by the intravenous route will be randomized to either Subutex or Suboxone and be followed up for 3 months to determine if there is less injection with Suboxone than with Subutex based primarily on patient diaries.

Patients randomized to Suboxone may continue to receive the product for a further 9 months at their request and will be monitored at 3 month intervals.

Patients will receive a payment for the inconvenience of keeping a daily diary and to cover their travel expenses.

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Reports of Suspected Buprenorphine Side Effects

Nausea (30),  Vomiting (27),  Maternal Exposure During Pregnancy (27),  Hyperhidrosis (24),  Dizziness (21),  Toxicity TO Various Agents (20),  Foetal Exposure During Pregnancy (19),  Disorientation (18),  Ataxia (17),  Somnolence (16), more >>

PATIENT REVIEWS / RATINGS / COMMENTS

Buprenorphine review by 36 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Highly Effective
Side effects:		No Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		Major Depression
Dosage & duration:		8mg sublingual tablets taken 2 sublinguals twice/day for the period of still taking it - has been 4 years
Other conditions:		Anorexia nervosa, PTSD (World Trade Center Survivor 9/11/01)
Other drugs taken:		Effexor XR, Adderall
		Reported Results
Benefits:		Subutex is mostly used to help opiate addicts withdrawal more comfortably from opiod drugs such as Vicodin, Oxycodone, and even Heroin. However, I was started on Subutex because my doctor and I were having no luck finding another med that would augment my current depression medications of Effexor XR and Adderall (which were only partially working). My doctor had found research suggesting that Subutex, because it is a partial opiate agonist itself (although much different in its properties compared to what most think of when thinking "opiate"), binds to one of the opiate receptors in the brain responsible for mood. My doctor has always been on the cutting edge of current research and was extremely open-minded in trying this med with me - and to welcomed relief as well! I have had almost ALL good results from this medication. It has definitely aided in the treatment of my very-treatment-resistent depression. The following are the benefits that I have noticed from taking Subutex: 1. Quick-acting - because Subutex is sublingual (dissolves under your tongue) it gets into your system immediately and does not have to be processed by your digestive system first. 2. Gentle effects - I have definitly not experienced any "highs". Just a subtle, but noticeable improvement in a feeling of wellbeing. 3. Also helps somewhat with anxiety by having a calming effect; in normal doses this happens without any tiredness. 4. Have not noticed ANY of the side effects that I have found with other psychiatric medications such as weight gain/loss, personality changes, sexual effects, etc. Also, in case anyone is worried that Subutex is a "partial-opiate agonist", I must emphasize that this med DOES NOT build a tolerance or make you want/need to increase dosage. I have been on this dose for four years without ever even thinking about needing more. HOWEVER!!! You must understand that - as is the case with ALL psychiatric medications - you cannot simply stop taking this medication without tapering your dose first or you will experience withdrawal effects. The one saving grace about Subutex, though, is that it has a very long half-life and will remain in your system long enough to prevent any type of withdrawal even if you miss a day or two of medication.
Side effects:		None.
Comments:		I take two 8mg tablets in the afternoon by putting them under my tongue and allowing them simply to dissolve. I do this again at night as I get into bed. That's pretty much it!