Buprenorphine Sandoz
Buprenorphine Sandoz patches contain buprenorphine, a strong painkiller used by adults to treat moderate, long-lasting pain when strong painkillers are needed, but not for sudden acute pain.
Form
depotlaastari
Strength
10 mikrog/tunti
Active Ingredient
Buprenorphine
Manufacturer
Sandoz A/S
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will decide the right dose for you.
Method
Apply one patch to a clean, dry, and hairless skin area (e.g., upper arm or upper back) and change it every seven days, preferably at the same time of day. Press the patch firmly onto your skin for 30 seconds, ensuring all edges stick.
Important
Do not use more than two patches at the same time. The total dose must not exceed 40 micrograms per hour.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Headache, dizziness, drowsiness
- •Constipation, nausea, or vomiting
- •Skin itching, skin redness
- •Rash, itching, redness, inflammation, or swelling at the application site
- •Loss of appetite
- •Confusion, depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, nervousness, tremor
- •Shortness of breath
- •Abdominal pain or discomfort, diarrhea, indigestion, dry mouth
- •Sweating, rash, skin changes
- •Fatigue, unusual weakness, muscle weakness, swelling (e.g., in hands, ankles, or feet)
RARE
- •Mood swings, restlessness, agitation, extreme happiness, hallucinations, nightmares, decreased sex drive, aggressiveness
- •Taste disturbances, decreased pain or touch sensation, tingling or numbness
- •Memory impairment, migraine, fainting, difficulty concentrating and coordinating
- •Dry eyes, blurred vision
- •Ringing or buzzing in the ears
- •Dizziness or vertigo
- •High or low blood pressure, chest pain, rapid heart rate, palpitations, facial redness (flushing)
- •Cough, hiccups, wheezing
- •Flatulence
- •Weight loss
- •Dry skin
- •Muscle contractions, aches and pains
- •Delayed urination, difficulty urinating, urinary incontinence
- •Fever
- •Increased accidents (e.g., falls)
- •Withdrawal symptoms, such as agitation, anxiety, sweating, or tremors when stopping Buprenorphine Sandoz treatment
- •Chest pain (related to heart disease)
- •Mental disorders
- •Balance problems
- •Swelling of eyelids or face, narrowed pupils
- •Breathing difficulties, worsening asthma, unusually strong breathing
- •Dizziness, especially when standing up
- •Speech difficulties
- •Difficulty swallowing, bowel obstruction
- •Local allergic reaction with clear signs of swelling (treatment should be stopped)
- •Swelling and irritation in the nose
- •Erectile dysfunction, sexual dysfunction
- •Flu-like symptoms
- •Dehydration
- •Muscle twitching
- •Ear pain
- •Blisters
- •Drug addiction
- •Epileptic seizures or convulsions
- •Inflammation of the intestinal wall, with symptoms like fever, vomiting, and abdominal pain or discomfort
- •Colic-like abdominal pain or discomfort
- •Feeling detached from oneself
- •Babies born to mothers who used Buprenorphine Sandoz during pregnancy may experience withdrawal symptoms such as high-pitched crying, irritability, restlessness, tremors, feeding difficulties, sweating, and failure to gain weight.
- •Contact dermatitis (rash with inflammation and possible burning sensation), skin discoloration.
Important Warnings
- Do not use if you are allergic to buprenorphine or any other ingredient in this medicine.
- Do not use if you have breathing difficulties.
- Do not use if you have a drug addiction.
- Do not use if you are taking MAO inhibitor medicines or have taken them in the last two weeks.
- Do not use if you have myasthenia gravis (a muscle weakness condition).
Show 14 more warnings
- Do not use if you have experienced withdrawal symptoms like agitation, anxiety, tremors, or sweating when stopping alcohol use.
- Buprenorphine Sandoz patches must not be used to treat drug withdrawal symptoms.
- Talk to your doctor if you have recently consumed a lot of alcohol.
- Talk to your doctor if you have epileptic seizures or convulsions.
- Talk to your doctor if you have severe headaches, nausea due to a head injury, or increased pressure in the brain, as the patch may worsen symptoms or hide the injury's severity.
- Talk to your doctor if you feel dizzy or lightheaded.
- Talk to your doctor if you have severe liver problems.
- Talk to your doctor if you have a high body temperature, as more of the active substance may be absorbed.
- Talk to your doctor if you have depression or another illness treated with antidepressants, as using them with Buprenorphine Sandoz can lead to a life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome.
- If you have recently had surgery, talk to your doctor before using these patches.
- Buprenorphine Sandoz can cause sleep-related breathing problems like sleep apnea (pauses in breathing during sleep) and low oxygen levels in the blood during sleep.
- Do not use Buprenorphine Sandoz patches if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, suspect you are pregnant, or planning to have a baby.
- Do not give this medicine to children or adolescents under 18 years of age.
- Do not drive or operate machinery while using Buprenorphine Sandoz patches or for 24 hours after removing the patch.
Use in Elderly Patients
Category C
Suitable for older adults, with specific precautions. Sedative. Low transdermal efficacy in cachectic patients. Increases the risk of confusion and falling. Need for laxative is often necessary. (updated 24.3.2025)