buprenorphine sweating

[707twitcher]

I know hot flashes and sweating can be a side effect of buprenorphine. But mine just started a week or two ago after being on buprenorphine for six months. I have had to increase dosage a bit to compensate for taking steroid eye drops post cataract surgery (about ten more days before I can stop them). Dose has gone from .4mg to .5 and occasionally .67 when RLS breaks through.

I suppose it could either be a side effect brought on by increased dose, or maybe mini withdrawal, as it generally only happens after noon, while taking the buprenorphine around 8pm.

This isn’t a huge deal, and I suspect it will abate when I can stop the eye drops. But I didn’t want to risk eye health for a temporary condition (needing more buprenorphine to handle RLS). And I hate to take any more buprenorphine than I absolutely have to because of the digestive system side effects. But if anyone has any similar experience or suggestions, I’d love to hear back. I know the patch could resolve withdrawal issues, but getting the patch Rx has been a much bigger hassle than getting sublingual strips.

[Madlegs1]

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/127...

[Joolsg in reply to Madlegs1]

Brilliant find.

[LotteM in reply to Joolsg]

Good find indeed, Madlegs. Terrible translation though. But one gets the gist.

[707twitcher in reply to Madlegs1]

Thanks much! I still think it’s buprenorphine related, but anything is possible…. I’ll know for sure soon when I can stop the eye drops.

[Joolsg]

I get sweats with Buprenorphine and always have. I think Madlegs may have posted the reason for yours though.I find an evening dose of cetirizine, a safe anti histamine, and a small dose of pregabalin help. There were trials of pregabalin to treat 'hot flushes' in menopausal women. Or hot 'flashes' as our friends over the pond call them.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[707twitcher in reply to Joolsg]

Thanks. Do you have a similar timing pattern as I do - no sweating til at least ~16 hours after last buprenorphine? I did just put a patch on, so I’ll know more about the withdrawal theory in a couple days…

[Joolsg in reply to 707twitcher]

No. For me there's no pattern. Hot weather and hot drinks can trigger it.

[Nonameme]

hi, you mention digestive system upsets, I had a terrible problem with my bowels for 2 years which no one could diagnose It was only when I stopped my Buprenorphine patch that this problem complete cleared but my GP was not accepting that was the patch saying it was ‘unheard of’.

I miss the patch but wondered where you found the information about these problems with Buprenorphine.

For this reason I would personally advise against this drug.

[HipHop1972]

Hello 707twitcher, I had cataract surgery on both eyes early this year before being prescribed Buprenorphine patches so can’t comment apart from saying that it’s really important to continue with the post opp drops to ensure proper healing after surgery from what you say you’ve not long to go now

Best wishes HipHop1972

[Marzipana]

I'm not surprised. My 43 yr old son was on methadone for several years, due to opioid addiction. He would sweat profusely, and to this day (he was on methadone about 20 years ago), he still sweats and always wears a bandana tied around his forehead.