A buprenorphine addiction occurs in two stages. Stage one transpires when the body develops a tolerance for the medication and the patient needs a higher or more frequent dosage. The second stage occurs when the patient has been taking buprenorphine for a long enough time that tolerance has developed, the medication has been adjusted multiple times, and withdrawal symptoms occur if the patient goes without the medication for at least 24 hours. Signs of an addiction to buprenorphine include abusing the medication, altering its form, or lying to obtain more of the drug.
Buprenorphine is classified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a controlled narcotic medication because it is an opiate and can be highly addictive. It is used to treat addiction to other opiates, such as morphine, hydrocodone, and heroine. Due to its addictive qualities, buprenorphine usage is typically monitored constantly by medical staff. Unfortunately, this monitoring does not always prevent buprenorphine addiction, especially when illegal drug sales provide access.
One sign of buprenorphine addiction a person may exhibit is abuse of the medication. Taking the medication more often or in larger quantities than instructed by the prescribing physician constitutes an abuse. The patient may run out of the medication too soon. He or she may also have higher levels of the medication in the bloodstream when tested. Often, these levels are much higher than they should be for a maintenance dosage at a particular time.
Altering the form of the medication is another sign of buprenorphine addiction. Buprenorphine is generally prescribed in pill form. People who are addicted to the drug will crush the pills into a powder form. This new form can be snorted or made into a liquid for injecting. By altering the medication’s form, the effects of the medication are felt sooner because the ingredients enter the bloodstream more quickly and in larger quantities.
Lying to obtain more buprenorphine is also a sign of buprenorphine addiction. Addicts will create elaborate lies about losing their pills, taking vacations, and even thefts. Doctors can determine if a story is genuine or a lie by testing the blood. The amount of buprenorphine left in the blood can pinpoint an addiction.
In some cases, buprenorphine addiction can have a psychological base. If a patient has been using illegal drugs to reduce mental or emotional suffering, it is possible that he or she is relying on the medication to accomplish the same goal. Additionally, an addict can show signs of guilt or admit to an addiction to buprenorphine but claim that he or she needs the medication to make it through life.
If buprenorphine is being prescribed, it is important to catch a problem and intervene before tolerance develops into addiction. When a patient becomes tolerant or shows signs of a tolerance, the prescribing physician should be notified. Doctors can take steps necessary to prevent addiction, including a complete removal from the medication.
