Burenorphine side effects

[davchar23]

I am still struggling with nausea despite buprenorphine success on RLS front. In my daily diary today I wrote:-

QUOTE

I took a total of 400mcg buprenorphine yesterday (100 in morning, 100 in evening and 200mcg at bedtime using tablet cutter. Nausea side effect still a problem.

I have stopped taking the ant nausea drug Zofran (which was not working) as it is a serotonin antagonist and there is a possibility that it is causing serotonin syndrome which means a lower serotonin in gut ie less serotonin metabolism which leads to nausea.

Overnight I had some nausea but seemed reduced although still feeling “rough” and breakfast was a forced effort and also I am very tired.

By noon I am feeling a bit better (will give lunch a miss though). i expect nause will clear by mid afternoon as usual

Bowels not really clearing despite taking 2 Senna tablets, 4 docusate tablets and daily dose of lactulose. Will take another lactulose dose later this afternoon and an extra Senna tonight

I will try to manage on 300mcg tonight (probably 100mcg late afternoon and 200mcg about 10pm)

I have stopped pregabalin (ie reduced from 25mg to zero) from last tonight

Still taking 2 iron bisglycinate tablets late evening with 100ml of orange juice and hopefully my ferritin is now over 100. (was 91 last month)

UNQUOTE

I would appreciate any comments from fellow buprenorphine users?

DavChar

[Jelbea]

Hi davchar23 - I take 800 mcg buprenorphine in divided doses. I would suggest that you might try taking your bedtime dose maybe an hour or two earlier. The effect does not kick in straight away and you might find that you are not so sedated in the morning and perhaps the nausea might not be so severe at that time. Its just a thought but I have had to change the timings of my doses until I got what felt the best for me.

I see you are also on two iron tablets nightly and of course this will add to the constipating effect you have with the buprenorphine. If your ferritin has come up to over 100 perhaps you could take the iron on alternate months. Iron tablets can also cause nausea in some patients.

Anyhow I hope you can get this sorted out - Good Wishes

[davchar23 in reply to Jelbea]

Dear jelbea,

Thank you for your useful reply.

I think you are correct about iron and time of buprenorphine dose and will try to make some changes.

Doesn't the 800mg dose make you very tired?

Much appreciated

Davchar

[Jelbea in reply to davchar23]

Dear davchar - unfortunately 800 mcg makes me very tired but I am also on oral chemotherapy which drains my energy as well. The BUP gives me reasonably good relief from RLS so I make the best of it. Good Wishes

[davchar23 in reply to Jelbea]

Dear Jelbea,

Thank you for your kindness in replying and I hope things get better for you in the near future

kind regards

Davchar

[Elisse3]

Maybe lots of fruit would help as well with your constipation especially tin prunes

[Happykaz]

Hi DavChar

In a nutshell - I started buprenorphine in July last year and it made me feel sick and I totally lost my appetite. I lost over a stone in weight. I didn’t know what to do next as I had tried nearly everything else.

I used to take iron but stopped this in December as my ferritin was over 240. (I’m due another iron test soon to see if this has decreased at all).

Early this January I suddenly felt like eating and didn’t feel so sick. Now I don’t feel sick at all and have fully regained my appetite. It took me over 6 months to get used to the buprenorphine but now everything is fine.

Hopefully the same will happen for you.

All the best.

[davchar23 in reply to Happykaz]

Dear Happykaz,

Thanks your support and good to know the nausea does eventually subside. Istarted buprenorphine last December so hope fully another couple of months might see an improvement.

I have decided to stop taking iron as i suspect my ferritin now over 100 anyway.

I know hat you mean about eating. and from a normally healthy breakfast this morning i had one boiled egg and a cup of tea. Even that brought on the hot/cold "sweats"

Regards

Davchar

[SueJohnson in reply to davchar23]

I would suggest you get it checked again to make sure it is over 100.

[LanaCSR]

Good morning! I take buprenorphine and am prescribed Zofran for the nausea which doesn't always help. I know this may sound simple, but have you tried Pepto Bismol (liquid pink OTC stuff)? It really helps me. Good luck!

[davchar23 in reply to LanaCSR]

Thank you for your suggestion but is that something that is OTC in the USA not UK?

Davchar

[LanaCSR in reply to davchar23]

Oh, I'm so sorry. Yes, it is over the counter in the USA. I'm not sure about the UK, but I get mine online from Amazon. Do you think you could get some that way? I wish I could send you a bottle to try. I hate that you're suffering so much with a medicine that works so well for RLS. You would think there would be an equivalent to Pepto Bismol in the UK.

[LanaCSR]

I did a quick Google search for Pepto Bismol in the UK and this came up: Pepto-Bismol is an over-the-counter drug currently produced by the Procter & Gamble company in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

[davchar23 in reply to LanaCSR]

Dear LanaCSR,

I appreciate your replies and support and i will check Amazon and order if I can.

I hope you don t mind me asking but what dose of buprenorphine do you take and when during a 24 hour period?

Kind regards

Davchar

[LanaCSR in reply to davchar23]

I take the sublingual form, 2 milligrams three times a day.

[Doctorplacebo]

A couple thoughts regarding your nausea. First, I wonder how much is due to the BUP versus another drug you are taking? And second, don't underestimate the misery that constipation can cause. It certainly can cause nausea. And cold sweats. And anorexia. If I were you I would treat the constipation aggressively to get it relieved, then daily prevention. Also, as you already mentioned the oral iron is probably no longer helping you so that can be stopped. Lastly, Pepto Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) is great for upset stomach and diarrhea but it will cause more constipation (and black stools); so beware.

[DogBella]

I, too, get nausea after my buprenorphine dose. I usually eat something after taking it to control the feeling. My eating habits have changed dramatically. At mealtime, I eat very little but do snack in between meals. I've have been on buprenorphine over a year. I have lost about 40 pounds. I was overweight so I (and my doctor) was not concerned. By snacking, it has helped with the nausea feeling.

[davchar23 in reply to DogBella]

Thanks your reply and points duly noted. i think I am heading in the same direction

Regards

Davchar