Norspan
Norspan patches contain a strong pain medicine called buprenorphine, used to treat moderate to severe long-lasting pain, but not for sudden pain.
Form
depotlaastari
Strength
10 mikrog/tunti
Active Ingredient
Buprenorphine
Manufacturer
Mundipharma Oy
How to Use
Dosage
Apply one patch to your skin and change it every seven days. Your doctor will tell you which strength to use.
Method
Choose a clean, dry, and undamaged skin area on your upper arm, upper chest, upper back, or side. Peel off the protective film, stick the patch firmly to your skin, and press for 30 seconds. Change the patch every seven days.
Important
Do not use more than two patches at the same time, with a total dose not exceeding 40 micrograms per hour.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Headache, dizziness, drowsiness
- •Constipation, nausea, or vomiting
- •Skin itching
- •Rash, redness, itching, inflammation, or swelling at the application site
- •Loss of appetite
- •Confusion, depression, anxiety, trouble sleeping, nervousness, shaking
- •Shortness of breath
- •Stomach ache or discomfort, diarrhea, indigestion, dry mouth
- •Sweating, rash, local skin rashes
- •Tiredness, unusual weakness, muscle weakness, swollen hands, ankles, or feet
RARE
- •Restlessness, extreme happiness, hallucinations, nightmares, decreased sex drive, aggression
- •Changes in taste, difficulty speaking, decreased pain or touch sensation, tingling or numbness
- •Memory loss, migraine, fainting, difficulty concentrating or coordinating
- •Dry eyes, blurred vision
- •Ringing or buzzing in the ears, dizziness or spinning sensation
- •High or low blood pressure, chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeat
- •Cough, hiccups, wheezing
- •Flatulence (gas)
- •Weight loss
- •Dry skin
- •Muscle spasms, pain, and aches
- •Difficulty urinating, inability to empty bladder completely
- •Fever
- •Increased chance of accidents (e.g., falls)
- •Withdrawal symptoms (e.g., restlessness, anxiety, sweating, shaking) when stopping Norspan treatment
- •Chest pain related to heart disease
- •Mental disorders
- •Balance problems
- •Swelling of eyelids or face, small pupils
- •Breathing difficulties, worsened 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
- •Erection problems, sexual dysfunction
- •Flu-like illness
- •Red skin
- •Dehydration
- •Muscle twitching
- •Mood swings
- •Ear pain
- •Blisters
- •Breathing pauses during sleep (sleep apnea)
- •Seizures
- •Inflammation of the intestinal wall (with symptoms like fever, vomiting, stomach pain)
- •Increased pain sensitivity
- •Colic-like stomach pain or discomfort
- •Feeling detached from oneself
- •Withdrawal symptoms in babies of mothers who used Norspan during pregnancy (e.g., high-pitched crying, irritability, restlessness, shaking, feeding problems, sweating, poor weight gain)
- •Need for increasing doses to get the same pain relief (tolerance)
- •Contact dermatitis (rash with inflammation and burning sensation), skin discoloration
Important Warnings
- Do not use if you are allergic to buprenorphine or any other ingredient in the medicine.
- Do not use if you have trouble breathing.
- Do not use if you have a medicine dependence.
- Do not use if you are taking or have taken MAO inhibitors in the last two weeks.
- Do not use if you have myasthenia gravis (a disease causing muscle weakness).
Show 22 more warnings
- Do not use if you have experienced withdrawal symptoms like restlessness or sweating when stopping alcohol.
- Do not use for treating drug withdrawal symptoms.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking antidepressants, as this combination can cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
- Tell your doctor if you have had seizures or convulsions.
- Tell your doctor if you have breathing pauses during sleep (sleep apnea).
- Tell your doctor if you have a severe headache, nausea from a head injury, or increased pressure in your brain, as the patch can worsen these symptoms.
- Tell your doctor if you feel dizzy or lightheaded.
- Tell your doctor if you have severe liver problems.
- Tell your doctor if you or a family member has a history of alcohol, prescription medicine, or illegal drug abuse or dependence.
- Tell your doctor if you smoke.
- Tell your doctor if you have had mood problems (like depression or anxiety) or have been treated by a psychiatrist for other mental health issues.
- Tell your doctor if your body temperature is high, as more medicine might get into your blood.
- Tell your doctor if you have constipation.
- Stop using the patch and contact your doctor immediately if you get skin reactions at the application site like redness, swelling, itching, rash, small blisters, or a painful/burning feeling.
- This medicine can make you more sensitive to pain, especially at high doses. Tell your doctor if this happens.
- Tell your doctor if you have recently had surgery.
- This medicine can affect your body's normal hormone production if used in high doses for a long time.
- Do not give this medicine to children under 18 years of age.
- If you use too many patches, remove them all and call your doctor or hospital right away. Overdose can cause severe drowsiness, nausea, breathing problems, or unconsciousness.
- If you stop using the patches suddenly, your pain might come back, or you might feel restless, anxious, nervous, shaky, have trouble sleeping, or stomach problems. Talk to your doctor before stopping.
- Do not start any new strong opioid pain medicine for at least 24 hours after removing the Norspan patch.
- Do not drive or use machines if you feel dizzy, sleepy, or have blurred vision while using Norspan patches, or for 24 hours after removing them.
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)