Norspan
Norspan is a strong patch medicine used to treat moderate to severe, long-lasting pain.
Form
depotlaastari
Strength
20 mikrog/tunti
Active Ingredient
Buprenorphine
Manufacturer
Mundipharma Oy
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will decide the right strength for you. Apply one Norspan patch to your skin every seven days.
Method
Apply the patch to a clean, dry, hairless area of skin on your upper arm, chest, or upper back. Press it firmly for 30 seconds to ensure it sticks well.
Important
Do not use more than two patches at the same time; the maximum total dose is 40 micrograms per hour.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Headache, dizziness, drowsiness
- •Constipation, nausea, or vomiting
- •Itchy skin
- •Rash, redness, itching, inflammation or swelling at the patch site
- •Loss of appetite
- •Confusion, sadness, anxiety, trouble sleeping, nervousness, shaking
- •Shortness of breath
- •Stomach ache or discomfort, diarrhea, indigestion, dry mouth
- •Sweating, skin rash, local skin reactions
- •Tiredness, unusual weakness, muscle weakness, swelling of hands, ankles, or feet
RARE
- •Restlessness, feeling very happy, seeing or hearing things that are not there, nightmares, lower sex drive, aggression
- •Changes in taste, difficulty speaking, less feeling for pain or touch, tingling or numbness
- •Memory loss, migraine, fainting, trouble focusing or coordinating movements
- •Dry eyes, blurred vision
- •Ringing or buzzing in the ears, dizziness or vertigo
- •High or low blood pressure, chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeat
- •Cough, hiccups, wheezing
- •Gas
- •Weight loss
- •Dry skin
- •Muscle spasms, aches, and pains
- •Difficulty urinating, inability to empty bladder completely
- •Fever
- •More falls or accidents
- •Withdrawal symptoms, such as restlessness, anxiety, sweating, or shaking when stopping Norspan treatment
- •Chest pain related to heart disease
- •Mental disorders
- •Balance problems, dizziness, especially when standing up
- •Swelling of eyelids or face, small pupils
- •Breathing problems, worsening asthma, unusually strong breathing
- •Difficulty swallowing
- •Local allergic reaction with clear swelling
- •Swelling and irritation inside the nose
- •Erection problems, sexual dysfunction
- •Flu-like symptoms
- •Red skin
- •Dehydration
- •Muscle twitching
- •Mood swings
- •Ear pain, blisters
- •Repeated breathing pauses during sleep (sleep apnea)
- •Seizures
- •Inflammation of the intestinal wall, with symptoms like fever, vomiting, and stomach pain or discomfort
- •Increased sensitivity to pain
- •Colicky abdominal pain or stomach upset
- •Feeling detached from oneself
- •Withdrawal symptoms in babies born to mothers who used Norspan during pregnancy, such as high-pitched crying, irritability, restlessness, shaking, feeding difficulties, sweating, and not gaining weight
- •Needing increasingly larger doses of this medicine to achieve the same pain relief (tolerance)
- •Contact dermatitis (skin rash with inflammation that can cause 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 severe breathing problems or sleep apnea.
- Do not use if you have drug dependence.
- Do not use if you are taking MAO inhibitors or have taken them in the last two weeks.
- Do not use if you have myasthenia gravis (a disease causing muscle weakness).
Show 9 more warnings
- Do not use this medicine to treat drug withdrawal symptoms.
- Talk to your doctor if you have a history of alcohol or drug abuse, or mental health problems like depression or anxiety.
- Avoid alcohol while using this medicine, as it can worsen side effects and affect your reaction time.
- Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
- Do not drive or operate machinery if you feel dizzy, drowsy, or have blurred vision, and for 24 hours after removing the patch.
- Seek immediate medical help if you experience severe allergic reactions such as sudden wheezing, difficulty breathing, swelling of eyelids, face, or lips, rash, or itching, especially if widespread.
- Do not start any new strong opioid pain medicine for at least 24 hours after removing the Norspan patch.
- Tell your doctor if you have skin reactions at the patch site, such as redness, swelling, itching, rash, small blisters, or a burning feeling.
- 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)