Buprenorphine

Suboxone tablets available in 2 mg and 8 mg sublingual dosages.

Desired Effects:

To inhibit opiate withdrawal symptoms and enable people dependent of street opioids to gain stability in their lives. Buprenorphine is a milder opioid than heroin but is still used as a street drug. Suboxone was popular in prison where it was often crushed and snorted. When used as street drugs, euphoria, reduced anxiety, relaxation.

Side Effects:

• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Confusion
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Hallucination
• Headache
• Sweating
• Nausea and vomiting (more common on initiation)
• Palpitations
• Respiratory depression (with high doses)
• Skin reactions
• Urinary retention
• Vertigo
• Withdrawal syndrome

• If taken according to prescription buprenorphine is very safe.
• Mixing with benzodiazepines and alcohol is potentially very dangerous.
• If other opioid drugs are used, although the effects are blocked by buprenorphine, eventually you can overwhelm the buprenorphine and accidentally overdose.

Long term risks:

Buprenorphine is an opioid, so prolonged use can result in physical dependence.

Short term risks:

Buprenorphine is an opioid so may cause overdose, particularly when mixed with other depressant drugs like alcohol or benzodiazepines. However, the effects of buprenorphine are much milder than heroin or methadone so there is less of a risk of fatal overdose.

Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid. It is a partial agonist at the opioid receptor, that is it only has a partial effect in triggering the opioid receptors in the brain, so effects are milder than opioid agonists like heroin. Buprenorphine and naloxone drugs have naloxone added as it is an opiate antagonist - it blocks the actions of opioids, which is why it is used as an antidote to an opioid overdose.

Buprenorphine is an opioid painkiller, but it is mainly used as to treat addiction to opioids like heroin. Buprenorphine is an opioid drug, so it has similar, but much milder effects to heroin and is less of an overdose risk. Buprenorphine is available as a tablet (Subutex, Temgesic) or wafer (Espranor) that are both dissolved on the tongue (sublingual), as a skin patch, an implant or in a slow-release injectable form (Buvidal).

Buprenorphine is also available as a sublingual tablet or film mixed with naloxone (Suboxone, Zubsolv). Naloxone is the drug used as an antidote to opioid overdoses. When taken sublingually as prescribed, the naloxone has no effect. However, if injected, the naloxone will be activated, causing withdrawal symptoms which prevents the misuse by injection.

Prescription Only Medicine. Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

As a sublingual tablet or wafer, as a skin patch, an implant or in a slow-release injectable form. As a street drug, snorted or injected.

If tablets are injected: needles and syringes, water, matches or lighter, spoon.

Used in substitution treatment for opioid drug dependence. Also used as a painkiller.

Prescribed. Diverted from manufacturers, pharmacies, GPs prescriptions.

'Street agencies' or projects, sometimes called community drug services or community drug teams, offer a range of services including information and advice, counselling, detoxification and prescribing for opiate users, needle exchanges and sometimes support groups and other services such as acupuncture. Some may have extended opening hours and may be open at weekends. GPs and hospitals can make referrals to specialist drug services like Drug Dependency Units (DDUs). These are usually located in or adjacent to a hospital and specialise in helping problem drug users, especially people who are dependent on opiate drugs. They provide counselling, detoxification, substitute prescribing and other treatments. Residential services offer treatment programmes for heavily dependent drug users who are trying to give up. Residents must usually be drug free on admission which means they usually have to undergo detoxification before entry. Programmes usually last 3-6 months, but some 12 steps programmes last longer. The types of programmes vary. Self help groups like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) co-ordinate local support groups for problem drug users around the country. Families Anonymous run similar groups for the families of drug users.

Parents & other relatives

Many drug agencies also provide lots of advice and support to parents, family members and partners of people using drugs. They may provide relative support groups or advice, guidance and counselling on a one to one basis.