Introduction: Subutex (sublingual buprenorphine hydrochloride) tablets are prescribed to alleviate symptoms of opiate withdrawal in addicts undergoing a cessation programme. Although Subutex is safe and effective, parenteral abuse is an emerging phenomenon. A variety of complications may present due to the different areas that patients inject themselves. Aim: We present a case series of four ...

AIM The aim of the study was to understand the prevalence and patterns of the non-medical injecting use of buprenorphine among drug injectors in Georgia. METHOD A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among injecting drug users enrolled in Georgian needle exchange programmes. The questions covered topics related to drug use career, patterns (frequency, history, dosage) and reasons f...

This study examines trends in the reported abuse of two sublingual buprenorphine products, Subutex and Suboxone, in the United States. Quarterly counts of abuse cases were obtained from 18 regional poison control centers (PCCS) for 2003-2005. Seventy-seven abuse cases were reported, of which 7.8 percent involved Subutex and 92.2 percent involved Suboxone. The average quarterly ratio of abuse ca...

Buprenorphine (Subutex®; Suboxone® buprenorphine and naloxone in combination) is since more than 12 years a fully accepted treatment choice for opioid dependence in Austria. In Austria up to now buprenorphine has reached like in France the status of a first choice medication together with methadone maintenance treatment. Until now the potential of buprenorphine as a treatment choice is not full...

buprenorphine (subutex) has been used to treat opioid dependency in the past 16 years. subutex (or buprenorphine hydrochloride) was approved by the singapore's ministry of health (moh) in 2000 as a substitution treatment for opiate-dependent drug abusers within the framework of medical, social and psychological treatments. it was subsequently introduced into the singapore market in 2002. i...

Self-injection of high-dose buprenorphine is responsible for well-described complications. In 2011, we have been alerted by unusual but serious cutaneous complication among injection buprenorphine users. A prospective data collection identified 30 cases of necrotic cutaneous lesions after injection of filtered buprenorphine solution, among which 25 cases occurred following injection of buprenor...

INTRODUCTION Subutex is a sublingual formulation of buprenorphine that is used to treat opioid dependency. It may be abused parenterally with disastrous consequences. CLINICAL PRESENTATION We present 4 cases of parenteral abuse of Subutex resulting in severe upper limb complications. TREATMENT Two vascular complications were treated with combinations of anticoagulants, vasodilators, brachia...

OBJECTIVE This study sought to compare the effectiveness of the 3 most commonly prescribed maintenance medications in the United States indicated for the treatment of opioid dependence in reducing illicit drug use and retaining patients in treatment. METHOD Data were abstracted from electronic medical records for 3,233 patients admitted to 34 maintenance treatment facilities located throughou...