Buprenorphine (Transdermal Route)

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Buprenorphine (Transdermal Route)

Drug Information provided by: Micromedex

US Brand Names

  • Butrans

Description

Buprenorphine transdermal (skin patch) is used to relieve moderate to severe chronic pain when around-the-clock pain relief is needed for a long period of time.

The buprenorphine skin patch should not be used if you need pain medicine for just a short time, such as when recovering from surgery. Do not use this medicine to relieve mild pain. This medicine should not be used to treat pain that you only have once in a while or "as needed".

Buprenorphine belongs to the group of medicines called narcotic analgesics (pain medicines). It acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to relieve pain.

When a narcotic medicine is used for a long time, it may become habit-forming, causing mental or physical dependence. However, people who have continuing pain should not let the fear of dependence keep them from using narcotics to relieve their pain. Mental dependence (addiction) is not likely to occur when narcotics are used for this purpose. Physical dependence may lead to withdrawal side effects if treatment is stopped suddenly. However, severe withdrawal side effects can usually be prevented by gradually reducing the dose over a period of time before treatment is stopped completely.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Patch, Extended Release
Before Using
DR603295 Portions of this document last updated: Dec. 1, 2012

Source: Drug Information provided by: Micromedex

Copyright © 2013 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

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