I don’t know that I’d be too fearful, especially about telling your doctor. Alcohol after that long of an abstinence might certainly be the cause. I personally haven’t ever noticed any interaction with my buprenorphine when I imbibe, but we’re all different when it comes to reactions. (And I’ve never gone that long between drinks 😂)
Out of interest 707twitcher, what dose of Buprenorphine do you take?I would love to be able to drink again, so miss it On the other hand, to be able to lay down in bed if give anything up!
Generally .4mg sublingual. An extra .2mg or so if there’s any breakthrough RLS. Does even small amounts of alcohol bother you? Maybe you could develop some level of tolerance if you start off slowly?
Unfortunately it seems only a couple of drinks caused this pain, which was quite extreme :(I think because I have a prominent bile duct, I must be super cautious, and with the bowel resection in2006.
I drink occasionally with Buprenorphine but don't experience stomach cramps.If it hasn't happened again, I would put it down to the alcohol. You may have developed a sensitivity to it.
You could try a small drink to see if it happens again.
While 'gastrointestinal discomfort' is listed by the BNF as a common side effect of taking buprenorphine by implant, intravenously or transdermally, curiously - to my mind - it's then not listed against sublingual use.
Indigestion (dyspepsia) IS listed by the BNF as an *uncommon* side effect of sublingual use.
I just don't know whether the cramps could be linked to the alcohol after a long period of abstention. In view of your history this might be a question for e.g. Bowel Disease Support group - which doesn't seem very active - or one of the IBS groups.
That's really interesting Chris. I hadn't taken thought of it as purely alcohol related.Thank you for that enlightening possibility. That makes me feel slightly more comfortable about the Bupe now 😊
I was on a 10 mg patch for nearly 2 years back and arthritic pain. In Hindsight nearly 2 years on I discovered that this medication had caused me to suffer terrible bowel problems which nobody including various paid for consultants could diagnose.
It was only after I collapsed, with rectal bleeding which turned out to be a severe C diff infection, that In hospital I was taken off of various drugs that they thought might be the cause, but nothing changed.
A few months after I was that depressed that I stopped taking the patch as I was willing to try anything to get rid of the Gastro symptoms Within 24 hours they all cleared up and apart from two returns of 24 hours of discomfort following antibiotics I have returned to normal.
Obviously this is just Me doctors say they’ve never heard of it and are not interested anyway and are not willing to give me any other pain relief, so I just swapped one form of suffering for another but at least I can control the pain by staying in bed rather than suffer the bowel problems sometimes in the middle of a supermarket! It has been 6 months now and I would never ever consider taking this again.
I do not drink so cannot give any opinions on that as a cause but your post just set my nerves jangling 😳
Hello smilingjane, I know drinking alcohol is not recommended when taking Buprenorphine I use 10 mg 7 day Patches for my RLS and have given up alcohol completely so don’t suffer any side effects. As you appear to be on a high dose I would definitely speak to your endo next week.
Hi smilingjane, I wasn’t suggesting you shouldn’t be taking that dose as I’ve no medical training and it’s been prescribed for you. I was only agreeing that you perhaps shouldn’t drink alcohol as it’s not recommended and I’ve given it up and I’m only on 10 mg Buprenorphine. I hope you get it sorted out when you see your Specialist next week.
No. I didn't feel any judgement at all HipHop 😊 I've never understood how the patch dose ratio works though? If you are on 10 MLS per week does that mean the equivalent of to just over 1 gram per day?
hello, I love this, smilingjane. Am I being over sensitive, I much prefer conversation as you loose the emotion and emphasis in a text. 1 patch lasts 7 days and each patch dispenses 10mg/ hour. Wish my young grandson was here as he’s a mathematical genius 😂. Anyway if I’ve got it right then one parch dispenses 240mg / day and 1,680 mg / week. No doubt I’ll get lots of messages correcting me if I’m wrong 😑 ha ha
Wow. There's some maths there. I am thinking now though... If you are taking 10 ml daily then that's a lot more than my under 1 ml daily? (600/800 mcgs to be precise!)
Or is my brain doing summersaults in the wrong direction?
Hello smilingjane. 🤔🤣. Let’s have another look at the packaging.. Each Transdermal Patch contains 10mg of Buprenorphine in a patch size 12.5cm square and releases 10 Micrograms of Buprenorphine an hour over a 7 day period. I’m a sirry irriot 😂. I should have spelt out Micrograms and not abbreviated to ( mg ) confusing it with milligrams.
I have given myself a good telling of and told myself to spend 30 minutes on the naughty step without speaking or looking at my phone.
Hi Smilingjane, I can only comment second hand as a friend of mine has trouble with his pancreas and your symptoms sound very much like he describes if he eats/drinks anything that his pancreas doesn't approve of. Also, as you've been on the buprenorphine for some time, it's unlikely to be a sudden side effect of that, but of course I'm not a doctor. More likely the alcohol and your pancreas having an all night party!
Lots of medications indicate that you should avoid alcohol whilst on them, but it's usually followed by - as it may increase the effects of alcohol - rather than cause other effects.
I would definitely mention it to your endocrinologist.
An article in today's New York Times concludes that there are no advantages to the body of alcohol at all. Not even that glass of red with dinner :(It's all poison and potentially life limiting.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
On the other hand, to be able to lay down in bed if give anything up!
Buprenorphine/Naloxone (Suboxone)
Nausea & Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine 0.4 tablets - any advice or guidance? 
final days of Requip
Buprenorphine insomnia
