Opioid addiction is a very difficult and complex condition for a person to deal with. To help someone who is trying to recover from this, a doctor may prescribe a medication called Buprenorphine. So, when you get this medication, you may have a lot of problems. So, today we will talk about what this medication is, how exactly it is used, and what are the most important things you need to know about it.
What exactly is Buprenorphine?
Simply put, Buprenorphine is a medication used to treat opioid use disorder. It helps reduce withdrawal symptoms (such as body aches, sweating, and restlessness) that occur when you suddenly stop using opioids. It also helps control cravings to use the drug again.
Think of opioid addiction as being in a deep hole. Buprenorphine is like a rope that you can use to pull yourself out of that hole. It gives you a lot of strength and support. But you have to hold on to the rope and pull yourself out. That's why it's so important to use counseling and behavioral therapy along with this medication.
Before starting this medication, you must definitely tell the doctor these things!
This is very important for your safety. Your doctor will need to know your complete health history before prescribing this medicine to you. Therefore, if you have any of the conditions listed below, be sure to tell your doctor about it without hiding anything .
| Health condition or habit | What you need to inform |
|---|---|
| Head and brain related problems | Conditions such as a head injury, brain tumor, or seizures. |
| Heart and lungs | Heart disease, irregular heartbeat, asthma or other breathing problems. |
| Liver and other organs | Liver disease, gallbladder disease, pancreatic disease, or low adrenal gland function. |
| Habits and addictions | If you are a frequent drinker or have an addiction to other drugs. |
| Mouth and stomach problems | Mouth sores, dental or gum disease, or any problem with the stomach or intestines. |
| Use of other medications | If you have taken an MAOI antidepressant such as Marplan, Nardil, or Parnate within the past 14 days. |
| Allergies | If you are allergic to buprenorphine or any other medicine, food, or dye. |
| Pregnancy | If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. |
Okay, now let's see how to use this medicine exactly.
The way you use this medicine is very important. It is essential to take the right dose at the right time, just as the doctor says.
- You don't need water to swallow this pill. This is a pill that you place under your tongue and let it dissolve .
- Place the tablet under your tongue and wait until it dissolves completely. Never chew, cut, or swallow the tablet. Doing so may make the medicine less effective.
- If you have to take more than one pill a day, if possible, place all the pills under your tongue at once. If that is not possible, place two pills under your tongue and let them dissolve.
- Continue using this medicine until your doctor tells you to stop.
What to do if the dose increases (overdose)?
If you think you have taken more of this medicine than you should, do not delay. Immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital , or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of your nearest hospital. This is an emergency.
Important: This medicine is for your own use only. Do not share this medicine with anyone else for any reason. This is illegal and could be very dangerous for the other person.
Other drugs that may interact with this medicine (Drug Interactions)
Buprenorphine is a drug that can interact with many other medications, so it's important to tell your doctor about all the medications you're taking, including vitamins and herbal remedies.
| Never take Buprenorphine with this medicine! | |
|---|---|
| Cisapride, Dronedarone, Pimozide, Safinamide, Samidorphan, Thioridazine | |
| Problems can occur with these medications - inform your doctor | |
| Alcohol | Drowsiness and breathing difficulties may become severe. |
| Antihistamines (medicines for allergies, coughs, and colds) | Increases drowsiness. |
| Medications for stress, anxiety, or sleep | Taking it with drugs like benzodiazepines can be very dangerous. |
| Antifungals, antibiotics, some medications for HIV or Hepatitis | For example: Ketoconazole, Erythromycin. These can change the effects of Buprenorphine. |
| Seizure medications | Eg: Carbamazepine, Phenytoin. |
| Other painkillers or opioids for coughs | Serious side effects may occur. |
Be very careful about these things when taking buprenorphine.
Do not stop taking the medicine suddenly!
Your body gradually gets used to this medicine. If you stop taking it suddenly, you may have a severe withdrawal reaction , which is a feeling of discomfort when you stop taking the medicine. Therefore, do not stop taking the medicine without talking to your doctor. If you need to stop, your doctor will gradually reduce the dose and show you how to stop taking it safely.
Sleepiness and attention
You may feel drowsy or dizzy while taking this medicine. Therefore, do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you. Be careful when getting up from a sitting position or sitting down suddenly, especially if you are elderly. Avoid alcohol completely while taking this medicine, as alcohol can make this drowsiness worse.
Be aware of Naloxone
Naloxone is an emergency medication that can be given to reverse an opioid overdose. It is important for you and your family to be aware of Naloxone before taking this medication. Talk to your doctor about how to get it and how to use it.
Constipation and dry mouth
A common side effect of this medication is constipation. If you don't have a bowel movement after 3 days, talk to your doctor. You may also experience dry mouth. Chewing sugar-free gum and drinking plenty of water can help.
Side effects that may occur due to medication
Like any medication, Buprenorphine can cause side effects. Some are dangerous, some are common.
| If these symptoms occur, inform your doctor immediately. | |
|---|---|
| Severe allergic reactions | Rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. |
| Respiratory depression (CNS depression) | Slow or shallow breathing, excessive sleepiness, unconsciousness, difficulty waking up. |
| Liver injury | Pain in the upper right side of the stomach, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark yellow/brown urine. |
| Changes in heart rate | Fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, chest pain. |
| Things that are usually not dangerous, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Constipation, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, headache, nausea, vomiting. | |
How to store and dispose of medicine safely?
Because there is a risk of abuse of this medication, it is important to keep it in a safe place out of the reach of children and pets . Protect it from theft.
It is also essential to properly dispose of expired or no longer needed medications. These can even cause death if they fall into the wrong hands.
- The best way is to hand these over to a medication take-back program . Ask your doctor about this.
- If such a program cannot be found, the source states that the medication can be flushed down the toilet.
Take-Home Message
- Buprenorphine is an important tool in helping people overcome opioid addiction. However, it does not work alone and must be combined with counseling.
- Always take the prescribed dose as directed by your doctor, place it under your tongue and let it dissolve. Never chew or swallow.
- Tell your doctor about any other illnesses you have and any other medications you take.
- Never stop taking the medicine suddenly.
- Keep the medicine very safe out of the reach of children and others.
- Be aware of the serious side effects and symptoms of overdose. In such a case, go to the hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately.
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