Norspan
Norspan patches contain buprenorphine, a strong pain reliever used for moderate to severe long-lasting pain, and should not be used for sudden acute pain.
Form
depotlaastari
Strength
5 mikrog/tunti
Active Ingredient
Buprenorphine
Manufacturer
Mundipharma Oy
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will decide the right strength for you. One Norspan patch delivers medicine through your skin for seven days.
Method
Apply one patch to a clean, dry, hairless, and unbroken skin area. Keep the patch on for seven days, then replace it with a new one, preferably at the same time of day.
Important
Do not apply more than two patches at one time. The maximum total dose is 40 micrograms per hour.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Headache, dizziness, drowsiness
- •Constipation, nausea or vomiting
- •Itching skin
- •Rash, redness, itching, inflammation, or swelling where the patch is applied
RARE
- •Loss of appetite
- •Confusion, depression, anxiety, trouble sleeping, nervousness, shaking
- •Shortness of breath
- •Stomach pain or discomfort, diarrhea, indigestion, dry mouth
- •Sweating, rash, skin changes
- •Tiredness, unusual weakness, muscle weakness, swelling in hands, ankles, and feet
- •Restlessness, agitation, extreme happiness, seeing or hearing things that aren't there (hallucinations), nightmares, decreased sex drive, aggression
- •Changes in taste, speech problems, reduced sense of pain or touch, tingling or numbness
- •Memory loss, migraine, fainting, difficulty concentrating and coordinating
- •Dry eyes, blurred vision
- •Ringing or humming in ears, spinning dizziness
- •High or low blood pressure, chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeat
- •Cough, hiccups, wheezing
- •Gas (flatulence)
- •Weight loss
- •Dry skin
- •Muscle spasms, aches, and pains
- •Difficulty urinating
- •Fever
- •Inability to fully empty bladder
- •Increased risk of accidents (e.g., falls)
- •Withdrawal symptoms like agitation, anxiety, sweating, or chills when stopping Norspan treatment
- •Chest pain (related to heart disease)
- •Mental disorders
- •Balance problems
- •Swelling of eyelids or face, narrowed pupils
- •Breathing difficulties, worsening of asthma, unusually strong breathing
- •Dizziness, especially when standing up
- •Difficulty swallowing
- •Local allergic reaction with clear swelling (treatment should be stopped)
- •Swelling and irritation in the nose
- •Erectile dysfunction, sexual dysfunction
- •Flu-like symptoms
- •Skin redness
- •Dehydration
- •Muscle twitching
- •Mood swings
- •Ear pain
- •Blisters
- •Sleep apnea (breathing stops during sleep)
- •Seizures
- •Inflammation of the bowel wall (symptoms like fever, vomiting, abdominal pain)
- •Increased pain sensitivity
- •Colicky abdominal pain or discomfort
- •Feeling detached from oneself
- •Withdrawal symptoms in newborns if mother used Norspan during pregnancy (high-pitched crying, irritability, tremors, feeding issues)
- •Need for increasing doses to get the same pain relief (tolerance)
- •Contact dermatitis (rash with inflammation and possible burning), skin discoloration
Important Warnings
- Do not use Norspan if you are allergic to buprenorphine or any other ingredients.
- Do not use if you have severe breathing problems or sleep apnea.
- Do not use if you are taking MAO inhibitors (a type of antidepressant) or have taken them in the last two weeks.
- Do not use if you have myasthenia gravis (a disease causing severe muscle weakness).
- Tell your doctor if you or your family have a history of alcohol or drug abuse.
Show 6 more warnings
- Talk to your doctor if you are taking other antidepressants, as combining them with Norspan can be dangerous.
- Tell your doctor if you have severe liver disease.
- If you have a high fever, too much medicine might be absorbed from the patch, so talk to your doctor.
- Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, unless specifically advised by your doctor.
- Do not drive or operate machinery if this medicine makes you feel dizzy, drowsy, or blurs your vision.
- This medicine should not be given to children under 18 years of age.
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)