Buprenorphine hydrochloride
Consumer Medicine Information
NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons
living in Australia. This page contains answers to some common
questions about . It does
not contain all the information that is known about
. It does not take the
place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks
and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risk of you using this medicine
against the benefits he/she expects it will have for you. If you have
any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Bookmark or print this page, you may need to read it again.
What is SUBUTEX used for?
SUBUTEX is used as part of a medical, social and psychological treatment program for patients addicted to opiate drugs like
heroin, morphine, oxycodone or codeine. SUBUTEX is used to help patients overcome this medical condition.
SUBUTEX tablets contain the active ingredient buprenorphine hydrochloride. It acts as a substitute for opiate drugs like
heroin, morphine, oxycodone or codeine and it helps withdrawal from opiate drugs over a period of time.
SUBUTEX should be used exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Subutex has been prescribed for you.
These tablets are described as 'sublingual'. This means that the tablet should be placed under the tongue and kept there until
fully dissolved, which usually occurs within 2 to 10 minutes.
Before you take SUBUTEX
SUBUTEX is not suitable for everyone.
When you must not take SUBUTEX
If you are under the age of 16 years.
If you are allergic to buprenorphine or to any of the other ingredients in this medicine (see Product Description).
If you have serious breathing problems.
If you have serious problems with your liver, or if your doctor detects the development of such a problem during treatment.
If you are intoxicated due to CNS depressant medicines (e.g. sedative/hypnotics, narcotic pain killers, anti-anxiety or antipsychotic
medicines), alcohol or have delirium tremens (the 'shakes' and hallucinations).
If you are pregnant.
If you are breast-feeding.
Do not take SUBUTEX if the package is torn, shows signs of tampering or if the tablets do not look quite right.
Before you start to use SUBUTEX
Tell your doctor if you have any of the following before treatment, or develop them during treatment, as your doctor may need
to adjust your dose of SUBUTEX:
asthma or other breathing problems;
thyroid problems;
prostate problems;
problems with excess alcohol use;
problems with your central nervous system;
Addison's disease;
Kyphoscoliosis (hunchback disease);
low blood pressure problems;
urination problems;
kidney problems;
liver problems;
if you are pregnant;
if you have head injuries or have a condition where you have increased pressure within your head, or
if you have problems related to the biliary tract.
Some people have died from respiratory failure (inability to breathe) when using benzodiazepines (medicines used to treat
anxiety or sleeping problems), or other depressants such as alcohol or other opioids at the same time as SUBUTEX. For further
information please discuss with your doctor.
Some cases of severe liver problems have occurred during treatment, although they may not necessarily have been caused by
SUBUTEX. If you develop severe fatigue, have no appetite or if your skin or eyes look yellow, tell your doctor immediately.
SUBUTEX can cause withdrawal symptoms if you take it less than six hours after you use heroin or morphine.
Also, if treatment is stopped abruptly, withdrawal symptoms may occur, which may be delayed in some cases.
SUBUTEX can cause drowsiness, which may be made worse if you also drink alcohol or take sedatives or anti-anxiety medicines.
If you are drowsy, do not drive or operate machinery.
SUBUTEX may cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly, causing you to feel dizzy if you get up too quickly from sitting or
lying down.
Athletes should be aware that this medicine may cause a positive reaction to "anti-doping" tests.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop, before you begin treatment with SUBUTEX.
You should not use benzodiazepines (medicines used to treat anxiety or sleep disorders) whilst you are taking SUBUTEX unless
they are prescribed by your doctor.
A number of medicines may alter the effects of SUBUTEX. These include:
certain medicines for treating HIV/AIDS;
certain medicines for treating fungal and bacterial infections;
strong pain killers;
cough medicines containing opioid-related substances;
certain antidepressants including monoamine oxidase inhibitors;
certain medicines used to treat fits or epilepsy (anti-convulsants);
sedating antihistamines;
sedatives;
anti-anxiety medicines;
certain medicines for high blood pressure, and
antipsychotic medicines.
Tell your doctor if you are scheduled to have surgery using a general anaesthetic.
Do not drink alcohol or take medicines that contain alcohol whilst you are being treated with SUBUTEX.
Alcohol and certain other medicines (as listed above) may increase the sedative effects of buprenorphine, which can make driving
and operating machinery hazardous.
How to take SUBUTEX
Do not take SUBUTEX to treat any condition other than the one prescribed for by your doctor.
Do not give SUBUTEX to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem the same as yours. It may harm them.
The tablets are taken sublingually. This means that you place the tablet under your tongue and allow it to dissolve, which
may take 2 to 10 minutes. This is the only way the tablets should be taken.
The tablets will not work if you chew or swallow them whole.
Do not inject SUBUTEX, patients have died from injecting SUBUTEX when also taking benzodiazepines (medicines used to treat
anxiety or sleeping problems).
How much to take
SUBUTEX is only for adults and children over the age of 16 years. Your doctor will tell you how much SUBUTEX to take and you
should always follow medical advice.
On the first day the recommended starting dose is 4 mg SUBUTEX with an additional 4 mg depending on your needs as determined
by your treating doctor.
For patients who are still using heroin: when starting treatment the dose of SUBUTEX should be taken at least 6 hours after
your last use or when the first signs of craving appear.
For patients receiving methadone: before beginning treatment with SUBUTEX, your doctor will probably reduce your dose of methadone
to a maximum of 30 mg/day. The first dose of SUBUTEX should be taken at least 24 hours after your last dose of methadone
or when the first signs of craving appear.
SUBUTEX may cause withdrawal symptoms if taken while still under the influence of another opiate.
During your treatment, your doctor may increase your dose of SUBUTEX to a maximum daily dose of 32mg, depending upon your
response to treatment.
After a period of successful treatment, your doctor may gradually reduce your dose.
Depending on your condition, your dose may continue to be reduced under careful medical supervision, until it is stopped altogether.
Do not suddenly stop taking the tablets, as this may cause withdrawal symptoms.
If you miss a dose of SUBUTEX
If you forget to take a dose of SUBUTEX take it as soon as you remember. If you are unsure consult your doctor.
If you take too much of SUBUTEX (overdose)
You will be given a dose of SUBUTEX appropriate to your condition. In the event of an overdose of SUBUTEX you should seek
medical advice immediately.
Side effects
Like all medicines, SUBUTEX may have unwanted side effects which may need medical treatment.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Many of the common side effects reported with the use of SUBUTEX were related to opiate withdrawal symptoms, such as difficulty
sleeping, anxiety, nervousness, malaise, fatigue, pain in the abdomen, back, joints and muscles, leg cramps, muscle weakness,
flu-like symptoms such as chills, fever, sore throat, coughing, runny nose, watery eyes and sweating, upset stomach and diarrhoea.
These usually resolve with continued daily use of SUBUTEX.
Other side effects which have occurred are: dry mouth, tooth disorders, headache, migraine, sleepiness, dizziness, fainting,
abnormal vision, depression, abnormal thinking, hostility, agitation, paranoid reactions, chest pain, neck pain, palpitations,
difficulty in breathing, yawning, nausea, vomiting, constipation, flatulence or wind, poor appetite, decreased weight, swelling
of the legs and arms, numbness, tremors, lymph node problems, abnormal liver function, hives, rash and itching, painful periods.
Rarely, the following have occurred: severe difficulty in breathing, hallucinations, coma, convulsions, confusion, asphyxia
(lack of oxygen intake), airway function problems, heart rate and rhythm problems and death.
There have been rare cases of life-threatening severe hypersensitive reactions with symptoms of severe difficulty in breathing,
swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat.
If you think you are suffering from any of the above side-effects, or any other side effects, you should tell your doctor
immediately.
Other side-effects not listed above may occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making
you feel unwell.
After using SUBUTEX
If you stop taking SUBUTEX and start using opiates again, you are at risk of being more sensitive to opiates, which could
be dangerous. You should talk to your doctor if you start using opiates again.
Presentation and storage
SUBUTEX is packed in child resistant blisters. Below are instructions on how to open these blisters.
1.
Remove just one section from the blister pack, tearing it along the perforated line.
2.
Starting from the edge where the seal is lifted, pull back the foil on the back to remove the tablet.
The tablets should be stored below 30°C in the original package.
As with all medicines, keep out of the reach of children.
Do not use SUBUTEX after the expiry date that is stamped on the pack.
Product description
What SUBUTEX looks like
SUBUTEX are white, flat oval shaped tablets. Each tablet has a sword logo on one side, with the 0.4 mg having '04' on the
reverse, the 2 mg having 'B2' on the reverse, and the 8 mg having 'B8' on the reverse.
Ingredients
Each SUBUTEX sublingual tablet contains either 0.4 mg, 2 mg or 8 mg buprenorphine (as the hydrochloride) as the active ingredient,
along with the following inactive ingredients:
lactose
mannitol
maize starch
povidone
citric acid
sodium citrate
magnesium stearate
Sponsor
Reckitt Benckiser
44 Wharf Rd
West Ryde NSW 2114
Australia
This leaflet was updated on
13 July 2012
SUBUTEX:
0.4 mg AUST R 76661
2 mg AUST R 76662
8 mg AUST R 76663