Buprenorphine
About Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is a prescription injection used to treat severe pain that does not respond to non-opioid pain relievers. It is also utilised under medical supervision as an important component of treatment programs for opioid dependence. This medication works directly on the central nervous system to safely manage severe discomfort and help stabilise brain chemistry during recovery.
This injection is given at precise intervals scheduled by your healthcare provider to ensure consistent drug levels in your body. Because this medication is injected directly, it is not affected by food, meaning you do not need to coordinate your doses with meals. To support your treatment, incorporating lifestyle adjustments such as physical therapy, stress management, and gentle, regular movement can significantly improve your recovery results.
While using Buprenorphine, you may experience mild side effects like drowsiness, mild dizziness, or nausea as your body adjusts. These are typically temporary, but you must contact your doctor immediately if you experience serious side effects, such as extreme sleepiness, slowed breathing, or symptoms of an allergic reaction.
Before you begin treatment, tell your doctor if you have a history of brain pressure, kidney problems, or lung conditions. Do not take this if you have severe breathing difficulties, severe asthma, or if you have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to similar opioid medications. Extreme caution is also required if you are taking sleeping medicines, alcohol, or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, as combining these with Buprenorphine can cause profound sedation, severe respiratory depression, or coma unless carefully supervised by your healthcare provider.
This medication can interact dangerously with alcohol, sleeping aids, or anxiety medications because combining them can severely slow down your breathing and brain activity. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or are an elderly individual, consult your doctor before starting Buprenorphine to ensure it is safe for your specific situation.
Uses of Buprenorphine
Medicinal Benefits
Buprenorphine helps relieve severe pain and supports treatment for opioid dependence, helping you feel more stable and comfortable.
Benefits may include:
- Helps provide long-lasting relief from severe pain.
- Reduces withdrawal symptoms during opioid dependence treatment.
- Improves comfort and ability to perform daily activities.
- Supports long-term recovery from opioid dependence.
- Promotes better participation in rehabilitation and counselling programs.
- Provides greater physical stability to improve overall quality of life.
Directions for Use
- This medication is injected into a muscle, under the skin, or directly into a vein by a trained healthcare professional in a clinical setting.
- If your doctor has authorised you to self-inject this medication at home, carefully follow the exact preparation and injection steps demonstrated by your healthcare team.
- Always use a fresh, sterile needle and syringe for every single injection, and rotate your injection sites to prevent skin irritation, hard lumps, or tissue damage.
- Never inject the liquid if it appears cloudy, discoloured, or contains visible floating particles.
- Always follow your doctor's exact instructions regarding your treatment schedule and never alter your dose on your own.
Storage
Side Effects of Buprenorphine
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Drowsiness, tiredness, or sleepiness
- Nausea, vomiting, or upset stomach
- Dizziness or lightheadedness when standing up (which may occur because this medication can lower blood pressure)
- Constipation
- Mild pain, redness, or itching at the injection site
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Slowed, shallow, or weak breathing
- Severe dizziness, fainting, or feeling like you might pass out due to a significant drop in blood pressure, or an unusually slow heartbeat
- Signs of liver damage, including yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or severe upper stomach pain
- Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, severe itching, or a widespread skin rash
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Check the solution before use: Make sure the injection solution is clear and free of particles. Do not use it if it looks cloudy or has changed in appearance.
- Rotate injection sites: Use a different injection site each time, such as different areas of your abdomen or thighs. This helps protect your skin and underlying tissue from damage.
- Never share injection equipment: Do not share needles, syringes, or medicine vials with anyone. Sharing can spread serious blood-borne infections.
- Be careful with activities requiring alertness: Avoid driving, cycling, or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects you. It may reduce your concentration or make you feel drowsy.
- Keep an injection record: Write down the date, time, and injection site each time you use the medicine. Share this record with your healthcare provider during your regular check-ups.
- Keep naloxone available if advised: If you or your caregiver is using this medicine at home, ask your healthcare provider whether you should keep naloxone on hand. Make sure your family members or caregivers know how to recognise the signs of an opioid overdose and use naloxone while waiting for emergency medical help.
Drug Interactions
- Benzodiazepines and sleeping pills (e.g., diazepam, zolpidem): Combining Buprenorphine with medications used to treat anxiety or sleep disorders can lead to extreme drowsiness, severe breathing difficulties, coma, or death.
- Other opioid pain relievers (e.g., morphine, tramadol): Taking other opioids alongside this medication can trigger sudden withdrawal symptoms or reduce the pain-relieving effects of Buprenorphine.
- Antifungal medications (e.g., ketoconazole): These drugs can slow down how your body processes Buprenorphine, leading to higher levels of the medication in your blood and increasing your risk of side effects.
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
- Prevent constipation: Opioid medications commonly slow down bowel movements. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and eat a diet rich in fibre, including whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, to maintain healthy digestion.
- Stand up slowly: This medication can lower your blood pressure, particularly when changing positions. Rise slowly from sitting or lying down to reduce the risk of dizziness, fainting, and falls.
- Stay well-hydrated: Drinking adequate fluids supports your kidneys and liver, helping your body process and eliminate the medication efficiently.
- Engage in guided movement: Participate in gentle, low-impact exercises like walking or stretching, as advised by your healthcare provider, to keep your muscles active and manage chronic pain naturally.
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 is used to treat opioid addiction.
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 has 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.
Mild redness, warmth, or soreness at the injection site is common and usually resolves within a few days. However, if you notice spreading redness, significant swelling, leaking fluid, or experience worsening pain, it could indicate an infection. Talk to your doctor right away.
No, you must completely avoid alcohol while using this medication. Combining alcohol with this injection can cause life-threatening respiratory depression, extreme drowsiness, coma, or death. Talk to your doctor if you need support in avoiding alcohol.
Using this medication during pregnancy can lead to your baby experiencing opioid withdrawal symptoms after birth, which can be serious. However, stopping treatment suddenly can also carry severe risks for both you and the pregnancy. Talk to your doctor to carefully weigh the benefits and risks for your situation.
Unlike many other opioid medicines, Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist. This means it activates opioid receptors just enough to provide effective pain relief while producing less intense effects than full opioids. Because of the way it works, it has a lower risk of causing severe breathing problems than many other opioid medicines. However, this protection is not complete. Serious or life-threatening breathing problems can still occur, especially if Buprenorphine is taken in higher-than-prescribed doses or combined with alcohol, benzodiazepines, sleeping medicines, or other drugs that slow the central nervous system. Always take this medicine exactly as prescribed, and speak with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
Yes. Your healthcare provider may recommend keeping naloxone readily available, especially if you use opioids at home, have other risk factors for overdose, or take medicines such as benzodiazepines that can slow breathing. Family members and caregivers should know where naloxone is stored, how to administer it, recognise the signs of an opioid overdose, and call emergency medical services immediately after giving it. Naloxone is an emergency treatment and does not replace medical care.
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