Buprenorphine Sandoz
Buprenorphine Sandoz patches contain buprenorphine, a strong painkiller, used by adults to treat moderate to severe long-lasting pain.
Form
depotlaastari
Strength
15 mikrog/tunti
Active Ingredient
Buprenorphine
Manufacturer
Sandoz A/S
How to Use
Dosage
Apply one patch to your skin every seven days. Your doctor will decide the right strength for you.
Method
Clean and dry an area of skin (outer arm, upper chest, upper back, or side of the chest) without much hair. Apply the patch and press firmly for 30 seconds. Do not cut or divide the patch. You can shower, bathe, or swim with the patch on.
Important
Do not use more than two patches at the same time. The total dose should not be more than 40 micrograms per hour.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Headache, dizziness, drowsiness
- •Constipation, nausea, or vomiting
- •Itching, skin redness
- •Rash, itching, redness, inflammation or swelling at the application site
- •Loss of appetite
- •Confusion, depression, anxiety, insomnia, nervousness, tremor
- •Shortness of breath
- •Stomach pain or discomfort, diarrhea, indigestion, dry mouth
- •Sweating, rash, localized skin rash
- •Fatigue, unusual weakness, muscle weakness, swelling (e.g., hands, ankles, or feet)
RARE
- •Mood swings, restlessness, agitation, extreme happiness, hallucinations, nightmares, decreased sex drive, aggressiveness
- •Taste changes, decreased pain/touch sensation, tingling or numbness
- •Memory loss, migraine, fainting, problems with concentration or coordination
- •Dry eyes, blurred vision
- •Ringing or buzzing in ears
- •Dizziness or vertigo
- •High or low blood pressure, chest pain, fast heartbeat, palpitations, flushing
- •Cough, hiccups, wheezing
- •Flatulence
- •Weight loss
- •Dry skin
- •Muscle spasms, aches and pains
- •Delayed urination, difficulty urinating, involuntary urination
- •Fever
- •Increased accidents (e.g., falls)
- •Withdrawal symptoms (agitation, anxiety, sweating, tremors) upon stopping Buprenorphine Sandoz
- •Chest pain (related to heart disease)
- •Mental disorders
- •Balance problems
- •Swelling of eyelids or face, constricted pupils
- •Breathing difficulties, worsening asthma, unusually strong breathing
- •Dizziness, especially when standing up
- •Speech difficulties
- •Difficulty swallowing, bowel obstruction
- •Local allergic reaction with clear swelling (treatment must be stopped)
- •Swelling and irritation inside the nose
- •Decreased erection, sexual dysfunction
- •Flu-like symptoms
- •Dehydration
- •Muscle twitching
- •Ear pain
- •Blisters
- •Drug dependence
- •Epileptic seizures or convulsions
- •Bowel wall inflammation (symptoms may include fever, vomiting, stomach pain/discomfort)
- •Colicky stomach pain or discomfort
- •Feeling detached from oneself
- •Withdrawal symptoms in babies of mothers who used Buprenorphine Sandoz during pregnancy (high-pitched cry, irritability, restlessness, tremors, feeding difficulties, sweating, lack of weight gain)
- •Contact dermatitis (rash with inflammation and a 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 problems, drug addiction, or a muscle weakness disease called myasthenia gravis.
- Do not use if you are taking MAO-inhibitor medicines (e.g., tranylcypromine, phenelzine) or have taken them in the last two weeks.
- Do not use to treat withdrawal symptoms from drug use.
- Talk to your doctor if you recently drank a lot of alcohol, have seizures, severe headaches, high pressure in your head, feel dizzy or faint, have severe liver problems, or have a fever.
Show 7 more warnings
- Talk to your doctor if you have depression or other conditions treated with antidepressants, as combining these medicines can cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
- This medicine contains an opioid, and repeated use can lead to tolerance, dependence, and addiction, with a risk of life-threatening overdose.
- Buprenorphine Sandoz can cause sleep-related breathing problems like sleep apnea. If you notice breathing pauses during sleep, waking up due to shortness of breath, or excessive daytime sleepiness, contact your doctor.
- Do not use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, think you might be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby.
- This medicine can affect your ability to drive or operate machines. Do not drive or use machines if you feel dizzy, drowsy, or have blurred vision.
- Avoid alcohol while using Buprenorphine Sandoz, as it can worsen side effects and affect your reaction time.
- Using Buprenorphine Sandoz with sedatives like benzodiazepines can increase the risk of drowsiness, breathing difficulties, and coma, which can be life-threatening.
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)