Publicité
Medical and Research Coordinator, NATReSA
Par
Partager cet article
Medical and Research Coordinator, NATReSA
<B>Fayzal SULLIMAN</B>
<B>What exactly is Subutex?</B>
Subutex is the trade name for Buprenorphine, a semi-synthetic opioid derived from the morphine alkaloid Thebaine. It is a mixed agonist-antagonist and its primary action is as a partial opiate agonist. Buprenorphine therefore produces opioid responses while reducing the effect of additional heroin or morphine.
Is it specifically meant for the rehabilitation of substance abusers?</B>
Buprenorphine is an effective safe medication in the treatment of opioid dependence. It was licensed for use in opioid dependency in the UK in 1999. It was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2002. It is used in France for the same purpose. It was available in Mauritius in Temgesic, containing 0.4 mg of Buprenorphine, and used as a potent painkiller for post-cardiac surgery patients. Due to its misuse, which resulted in a few deaths, its importation was banned in 1998.
How does it work? </B>
The tablet is administered sublingually and absorbed by the circulatory system. It takes 90-150 minutes to reach its peak concentration in the circulatory system and one to four hours to reach peak clinical effect after administration. In low doses (2-4 mg), the duration of action is up to 12 hours and in higher doses (16-32 mg) the duration of action is 48-72 hours. It has a half-life of 20-37 hours.
Are there any side effects?</B>
Most unwanted effects of Buprenorphine are similar to those of other opioids, including constipation, headaches, sleeplessness, sweating and a bitter taste in the mouth. They vary from individual to individual but are most prominent in the first days of treatment. As a special precaution, concurrent use of central nervous system depressants should be closely monitored, as they may induce respiratory depression and, ultimately coma in rare cases.
What are the risks of such medicines?</B>
Risk in using such medicine is primarily the diversion of use. In France many heroin addicts, treated with Buprenorphine, take their medication intravenously and not sublingually. This misuse may result in sudden death caused by pulmonary embolism.
How can such risks be avoided?</B>
Strict parameters in the dispensing of the medication should be enforced. For example, directly observed therapy should be the bottom-line practice, which involves the personnel of the treatment centre administering the medication sublingually to the client and giving him a glass of water to drink after allowing some time for the drug to be absorbed. It should thus be restricted to treatment and rehabilitation centres and prescribed by the practitioners concerned only and not by any private doctor.
Publicité
Publicité
Les plus récents
