About buprenorphine
Opioid partial agonist analgesic
Used for
- Long-term management of severe, persistent pain requiring continuous opioid treatment.
Usual adult dose
Applied once weekly; dosing is individualized. Opioid-naive adults usually start at 5 mcg/hour; maximum is 20 mcg/hour.
Common side effects
- Nausea, constipation, dizziness, or headache
- Sleepiness, fatigue, or application-site irritation
- Slow or difficult breathing
Important warnings
- Can cause addiction, overdose, and life-threatening breathing suppression.
- Alcohol and sedating medicines increase breathing and sedation risks.
- Heat exposure can increase absorption and overdose risk.
- Not for occasional, mild, or short-term pain; do not cut patches.
Pregnancy
Prolonged use during pregnancy can cause life-threatening opioid withdrawal in the newborn. Use may also cause fetal harm.
Breastfeeding
Buprenorphine passes into breast milk and may cause infant sleepiness or breathing problems; monitor for these effects.
Interactions
- Benzodiazepines, alcohol, and other sedatives can dangerously slow breathing.
- Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors may increase buprenorphine effects; inducers may reduce them.
- Other opioids or serotonergic medicines may increase serious side-effect risks.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.