MISUSE OF OPIOID MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.
Using Buprenex during pregnancy may cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.
Fatal side effects can occur if you use opioid medicine with alcohol, or with other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use Buprenex if you are allergic to buprenorphine, or if you have:
severe asthma or breathing problems; or
a blockage in your stomach or intestines.
To make sure Buprenex is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
breathing problems, sleep apnea;
a head injury, brain tumor, or seizures;
alcoholism, drug addiction, mental illness;
urination problems;
liver or kidney disease;
a heart rhythm disorder (especially if you take medication to treat it);
long QT syndrome (in you or a family member);
an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood);
abnormal curvature of the spine that affects breathing;
Addison's disease (adrenal gland disorder); or
problems with your gallbladder, pancreas, or thyroid.
If you use opioid medicine while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on opioids may need medical treatment for several weeks.
Buprenorphine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not breast-feed while you are using Buprenex.
How should I use Buprenex?
Buprenex is injected into a muscle or given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection. Buprenex is usually given by injection only if you are unable to take the medicine by mouth or use another form of buprenorphine.
Buprenex is usually given at evenly spaced intervals, up to 6 hours apart. Tell your doctor if Buprenex does not relieve your pain within 1 hour after an injection.
Buprenex can cause irritation if it gets on your skin. If this occurs, remove any clothing the medicine has spilled onto, and rinse your skin with water.
Never share opioid medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. MISUSE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away opioid medicine is against the law.
