Buprenorphine is an FDA approved medication for treatment of people with opioid use disorder.
You can become dependent on buprenorphine/naloxone. Buprenorphine treatment does result in physical dependence—
meaning you will need to take it to feel well and not be in withdrawal. If buprenorphine is suddenly discontinued, patients
may have symptoms such as muscle aches, stomach cramps, or diarrhea lasting several days. To minimize the possibility
of withdrawal symptoms, tapering and discontinuation should be a slow process and close monitoring is recommended.
Buprenorphine tapering generally occurs over several months.
If you are dependent on opioids, you must be in withdrawal when you take the first dose of buprenorphine. If you are not
in withdrawal, buprenorphine can cause severe opioid withdrawal symptoms.
It may take several days to get used to the transition from the opioid previously used to buprenorphine. During this time, any use of other opioids may cause an increase in symptoms.
After becoming stabilized on buprenorphine, the use of other opioid will have less effect. Attempts to override the buprenorphine by taking more opioids could result in an opioid overdose and can be fatal.
Combining buprenorphine with alcohol or other medications may be hazardous. Combining buprenorphine with benzodiazepine medications such as Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, Haldol, Librium and Ativan can be dangerous without proper medical supervision.
Buprenorphine tablets or film must be held under the tongue until they completely dissolve; buprenorphine will not be absorbed from the stomach if it is swallowed intact. Injecting your medication can cause a number of medical complications and can be hazardous. Like all opioids, patients may suffer side effects such as constipation, dry mouth,
nausea, and headache.
I hereby authorize and give voluntary consent to SaVida Health and its medical personnel to prescribe buprenorphine as part of the treatment for my opiate dependence. I understand there are potential risks and benefits. Treatment procedures have been explained to me, and I understand that this will involve my taking buprenorphine at the schedule determined by my medical provider in accordance with Federal and State regulations. I understand that I my leave the program at any time with or without a supervised tapering of my buprenorphine dose.