Buprenorphine

Serum, 2ml

Buprenorphine is an opioid analgesic of the group of strongly active analgesics, and is administered for the therapy of medium to strong pain suffering patients, as a substitute treatment for patients with opioid addiction. The effects are based upon the partial agonism of the effective ingredient on the ‘µ’- and the antagonism at the ‘κ’ –opioid receptors. Buprenorphine thus bonds longer on the ‘µ’ receptors (around 6-8 hours longer than morphine), which combats the habit-forming tendency of the drug over longer periods of time. Frequent side effects are sedation,, somnolence, nausea, free sweating and respiratory depression. The addiction potential of buprenorphine is less than that of morphine.

Type of drug: Drug for treating addiction and dependency disorders
Metabolism: CYP2C8, CYP3A4, UGT1A3, UGT2B7
Half life t½: 2-5h
Steady State: 1-2 days
TDM: recommended
Additional Informations: Chronic opioid users may need higher blood levels. Maximum dose 24mg/d (trough level 3-6ng/ml for buprenorphine and 6-15ng/ml for norbuprenorphine).