Buprenorphine Transdermal Patch

Buprenorphine patches can be habit forming, especially with prolonged use. Use buprenorphine patches exactly as directed. Do not apply more patches, apply the patches more often, or use the patches in a different way than prescribed by your doctor. While using buprenorphine patches, discuss with your health care provider your pain treatment goals, length of treatment, and other ways to manage your pain. Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family drinks or has ever drunk large amounts of alcohol, uses or has ever used street drugs, or has overused prescription medications, or has had an overdose, or if you have or have ever had depression or another mental illness. There is a greater risk that you will overuse buprenorphine if you have or have ever had any of these conditions. Talk to your health care provider immediately and ask for guidance if you think that you have an opioid addiction or call the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

Buprenorphine patches may cause serious or life-threatening breathing problems, especially during the first 24 to 72 hours of your treatment and any time that your dose is increased. Your doctor will monitor you carefully during your treatment. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had breathing difficulties, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; a group of diseases that affect the lungs and airways), or other lung disease. Your doctor may tell you not to use buprenorphine patches.

Taking certain medications with buprenorphine patches may increase the risk of serious or life-threatening breathing problems, sedation, or coma. Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking atazanavir (Reyataz); benzodiazepines such as such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Diastat, Valium), estazolam, flurazepam, lorazepam (Ativan), oxazepam, temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion); medications for mental illness and nausea; other medications for pain; muscle relaxants; sedatives; sleeping pills; and tranquilizers. Your doctor may need to change the dosages of your medications and will monitor you carefully. If you use buprenorphine transdermal with any of these medications and you develop any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical care: unusual dizziness, lightheadedness, extreme sleepiness, slowed or difficult breathing, or unresponsiveness. Be sure that your caregiver or family members know which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor or emergency medical care if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.

Drinking alcohol or using street drugs during your treatment with buprenorphine transdermal also increases the risk that you will experience these serious, life-threatening side effects. Do not drink alcohol, take prescription or nonprescription medications that contain alcohol, or use street drugs during your treatment.

Do not allow anyone else to use your medication. Accidental exposure, especially in children, may result in serious harm or death. Store buprenorphine patches in a safe place so that no one else can use them accidentally or on purpose. Be especially careful to keep buprenorphine patches out of the reach of children. Keep track of how many patches are left so you will know if any are missing.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you use buprenorphine patches regularly during your pregnancy, your baby may experience life-threatening withdrawal symptoms after birth. Tell your baby’s doctor right away if your baby experiences any of the following symptoms: irritability, hyperactivity, abnormal sleep, high-pitched cry, uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body, vomiting, diarrhea, or failure to gain weight.

Patients, too, are unhappy with the care they receive during those brief interactions with their doctors. Healthcare communications company West Corporation reported that 25% of patients don’t feel that their provider cares about them as an individual and nearly 20% aren’t convinced their doctor is focused on improving their health – even though 93% of doctors strongly agree that patient satisfaction is important.

Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer’s patient information sheet (Medication Guide) when you begin treatment with buprenorphine patches and each time you refill your prescription. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You can also visit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website (http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm085729.htm) or the manufacturer’s website to obtain the Medication Guide.

Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication.

🔔 Why is this medication prescribed?

Buprenorphine patches are used to relieve severe pain in people who are expected to need pain medication around the clock for a long time and who cannot be treated with other medications. It is in a class of medications called opiate (narcotic) analgesics. It works by changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain.

🔔 How should this medicine be used?

Transdermal buprenorphine comes as a patch to apply to the skin. The patch is usually applied to the skin once every 7 days. Change your patch at about the same time of day every time you change it. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Apply buprenorphine patches exactly as directed.

Your doctor may start you on a low dose buprenorphine patch and gradually increase your dose, not more often than once every 3 days. If this increase involves the use of two patches, remove your current patch and at the same time, place the two new patches next to each other at a new site. If your doctor tells you to use two patches, you should always change and apply them at the same time. Your doctor may decrease your dose if you experience side effects. Contact your doctor if the dose you are taking does not control your pain. Talk to your doctor about how you are feeling during your treatment with buprenorphine patches.

Buprenorphine skin patches are only for use on the skin. Do not place patches in your mouth or chew or swallow the patches.

Do not stop using buprenorphine patches without talking to your doctor. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually. If you suddenly stop using buprenorphine patches you may have symptoms of withdrawal. Call your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms of withdrawal: restlessness, teary eyes, runny nose, yawning, sweating, chills, hair standing on end, muscle aches, large pupils (black circles in the center of the eyes), irritability, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, pain in the joints, weakness, fast heartbeat, or rapid breathing.

Do not use a buprenorphine patch that is cut, damaged, or changed in any way. If you use cut or damaged patches, you may receive most or all of the medication at once, instead of slowly over 7 days. This may cause serious problems, including overdose and death.

If your buprenorphine patch is exposed to extreme heat, it may release too much medication into your body at once. This can cause serious or life-threatening symptoms.Do not expose your patch or the skin around it to direct heat such as heating pads, electric blankets, heat lamps, saunas, hot tubs, and heated water beds. Do not take long, hot baths or sunbathe while you are wearing the patch.

You may bathe or shower while you are wearing a buprenorphine patch. If the patch falls off during these activities, dispose of it properly. Then dry your skin completely and apply a new patch. Leave the new patch in place for 7 days after you apply it.

You can apply a buprenorphine patch to your upper outer arms, upper chest, upper back, or the side of your chest. Choose an area of skin that is flat and hairless. Do not apply the patch to parts of the body that irritated, broken, cut, damaged, or changed in any way. If there is hair on the skin, use scissors to clip the hair as close to the skin as possible. Do not shave the area. Wait at least 3 weeks before applying a new patch to same site.

To apply the patch, follow these steps:

1. Clean the area where you plan to apply the patch with clear water and pat completely dry. Do not use any soaps, lotions, alcohols, or oils.
2. Use scissors to cut open the pouch containing the buprenorphine patch along the dotted line. Remove the patch from the pouch and peel off the protective liner from the back of the patch. Try not to touch the sticky side of the patch.
3. Immediately press the sticky side of the patch onto the chosen area of skin with the palm of your hand.
4. Press the patch firmly for at least 15 seconds. Be sure that the patch sticks well to your skin, especially around the edges. Do not rub the patch.
5. If the patch does not stick well or comes loose after it is applied, tape only the edges to your skin with first aid tape. If the patch still does not stick well, you may cover it with Bioclusive or Tegaderm brand see-through dressings. Do not cover the patch with any other type of bandages or tape. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if your patch continues to have problems sticking to your skin.
6. If a patch falls off before it is time to remove it, dispose of the patch properly and apply a new patch at a different area of skin. Leave the new patch in place for 7 days.
7. When you are finished applying the patch, wash your hands with only clear water right away.
8. Write down the date and time that the patch is applied.
9. When it is time to change your patch, peel off the old patch and apply a new patch to a different skin area.
10. After you remove your patch, use the Patch Disposal Unit provided to you by the manufacturer to safely dispose of the used patch in the trash. Close the Patch Disposal Unit by folding the sticky sides together, then press firmly and smoothly over the entire Unit so that the patch is sealed within. Do not place used patches in the trash without first sealing them in the Patch Disposal Unit. Alternatively, you may also may fold the sticky sides of a used patch together and flush it down the toilet. Used patches may still contain some medication and may be dangerous to children, pets, or adults who have not been prescribed buprenorphine patches.