Withdrawal Symptoms

Hi

Re the Depression question I posted.

The major depression started with the patch. There is other symptoms such as diarrheoa, restlessness, anxiety, feeling sick etc. Thought they were just side effects. So I think I am having withdrawal symptoms. I have taken the patch off to see whether I start to feel better and left a message with my pain management consultant to discuss the issue.

Also I noticed that the euphoria I was experiencing stopped when I started to use the Buprenorphine patch. Is that how the Buprenorphine works to stop people taking opiates?

[J T Junig, MD PhD]

Your response to a dose of buprenorphine-- either by patch, or by a dose of Suboxone-- will depend on your tolerance for opioids.  If you are taking high doses of opioids, the buprenorphine patch will 'pull' your tolerance downward, even causing withdrawal.  A sublingual dose of buprenorphine or Suboxone will do the same.  On the other hand if your tolerance to opioids is low, or if you don't take them at all, the buprenorphine will  only give you a positive opioid effect-- elevating mood and reducing pain, for example.  Buprenorphine has a 'cap' to it's actions;  if you are used to a higher potency of medication, buprenorphine will block your response and cause withdrawal-- and depression.