Buprenorphine Test Device

What is BUPRENORPHINE?

• Buprenorphine is a schedule III drug in the US.
• It is a semi-synthetic form of opioid that is used to treat opioid addiction, to control moderate, acute pain.
• Buprenorphine hydrochloride was first marketed in 1980’s by Reckitt and Colman.
• They first marketed buprenorphine as an analgesic by name Temgesic and Buprenex .

What is the Impact of Buprenorphine on our Brain and Central Nervous system?

• The buprenorphine works directly on the brain and nervous system to decrease withdrawal symptoms. As a result, it may cause side effects involving the nervous system.
• About 60 percent of people who take Buprenorphine experience sedation. Some people report dizziness vertigo or headache. Rarely, it causes confusion, weakness, fatigue, nervousness, slurred speech, and a prickly or burning sensation.
• The buprenorphine may increase cerebrospinal fluid pressure and cause changes in consciousness. Some consumers feel agitated or excessively sleepy after taking this medication. Others experience insomnia. It may cause ringing in the ears, tremor, convulsions or coma.
• Since it depress the central nervous system, or CNS, may increase the risk for side effects such as anxiety, depression, insomnia and elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure.
• The abuser may experience changes in their vision, including blurred vision, conjunctivitis, and pinpoint pupils. This medication may  "lazy eye.“
• It may also cause auditory and visual hallucinations.

What is the impact of Buprenorphine on our lungs and Respiratory System?

• Therapeutic doses of injectable or sublingual buprenorphine may cause respiratory system side effects. Intravenous misuse of Subutex may cause death, especially when combined with CNS depressants. 
  Hypoventilation may affect 1 percent to 5 percent of Subutex consumers. Less than 1 percent of people who take Subutex experience shortness of breath, stopped breathing or cyanosis, which is a bluish tint around the eyes, mouth and fingertips.
• Patients who are dependent on opioids may suffer from a stuffy or runny nose while taking Subutex. Opioid-dependent individuals may suffer respiratory depression, especially after intravenous administration of Subutex.

What is the impact of Buprenorphine on our Digestive System?

• Buprenorphine may affect the digestive tract.
•  Its consumers experience constipation, or suffer from diarrhoea.
•  Nausea and vomiting are relatively common.
• Buprenorphine may increase the pressure in the ducts between the liver and gall bladder.

What is the impact of Buprenorphine on Heart?

• Buprenorphine may affect your heart.
•  Less than 10 percent of opioid dependent patients who take buprenorphine experience cardiovascular side effects such as vasodilatations, or widening of the arteries and veins.
•  Buprenorphine may cause orthostatic hypotension, which is a sudden decrease in blood pressure when you sit or stand up suddenly.

What are the other side effects of Buprenorphine on the body?

• The transdermal patch formula of buprenorphine may cause dermatologic side effects such as itching, puffiness, rash and irritation at the patch site.
• Its use can causes side effects associated with the musculoskeletal system, including decrease muscle coordination.
• Lots of unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as muscle aches and cramps, insomnia, drug craving, respirator depression, decrease in sex drive and difficulty in ejaculation etc.

What is the Impact of Buprenorphine on women and their babies?

• Buprenorphine use during pregnancy can result in low birth weight, premature birth, low blood sugar, and infant death.
• Babies can be born addicted to buprenorphine, and may experience withdrawal symptoms.
• This which may cause the baby to be restless, have a fever, and in need of opioid replacement. 

What is the Impact of Buprenorphine on Teenagers and Young Adults?

• Recreational use of Buprenorphine is on the rise among the teenagers.
•  It may cause cognitive and memory deficiencies
• They abuse it along with other recreational drugs and alcohol, which may lead to fatal respiratory failure.
• Co-intoxication carries greater risk for lethal overdose.
• Early detection and treatment can prevent a lot of damage.

What are the street names and slangs used for Buprenorphine?

• Buprenorphine is usually used for recreational purpose by opioid users.
• Some  Common slangs are Suboxone, saboxin, sobos, stibines, sibs, subbies, bupe, Stops, Stop signs, Box, Oranges, Texas toast, Subs, White Bupe, Tecs and Whites for Subtex.
• In UK, It is reffered to as Bupey, Subs, Xone, Subway, Subbies, Tems, Gesics.
• In Australia, Silverbacks, Bupe, poor man’s smack and S Box are some common street names.

How is Buprenorphine used in Medical Field?

Buprenorphine is used in the field of medicine foe the following purposes:

• To treat Opioid addiction
• To control moderate to acute pain
• To treat chronic pain
• To treat severe cancer pain
• For treating non-cancer pain not responding to non- opioid
•  Its overdose cannot be reversed which is highly fatal.  

How Buprenorphine is abused?

• Buprenorphine can be used for the narcotic “high”.
• Some of the popular  ways in  which it is consumed by the addicts.
• Sublingual
• Intra-arterial
• Intravenous
• Intrahepatoportal
• Intraduodenal
• Buccal
• Recreational users crush the tablet and snort it to experience euphoria similar to other opioid.
• Insufflations has slightly higher effect than taking the pill orally.
• The tablet forms of buprenorphine has high potency, only a small amount of the drug is needed to achieve the desired effects.