Buprenorphine Addiction | Signs, Symptoms and Effects

Buprenorphine can be an instrumental factor in escaping the grip of opioid addiction, and it has helped many people across the world find new hope. However, the bitter irony of buprenorphine is that for some people, this useful medicine can actually produce its own form of dependency, creating an unfortunate cycle that feels like one step forward and two steps back. Not everyone who uses it will become addicted to buprenorphine, but knowledge of its risks can help people use it responsibly and avoid a whole new addiction battle.

What is buprenorphine?

Buprenorphine is a specially designed medicine known as a partial opioid. It is mostly used to help people reduce or end their use of stronger opioids like heroin by reducing cravings and other withdrawal symptoms.

Unlike full opioids, however, buprenorphine activates opioid receptors just enough to relieve withdrawal without creating a powerful “high.” As a bonus, buprenorphine also has what is known as a “ceiling effect”. This means that once you get past a certain dose, its effects do not increase. This massively reduces the chances of buprenorphine abuse and overdose.

However, there are still cases where people do become addicted to buprenorphine, as you will see on this page. In addition to this risk, buprenorphine can also come with other side effects including:

Constipation
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Headache
Insomnia
Nausea
Sweating

Because of these potential issues, buprenorphine is a regulated Class C drug in the UK. This means it is under strict controls to ensure only safe, doctor-supervised use.

What is buprenorphine addiction?

Buprenorphine addiction is when you can’t control how much buprenorphine you are taking, no matter the issues it causes. While buprenorphine’s ceiling effect makes recreational buprenorphine abuse very rare, it is still an opioid at its core and dependency can develop if you use it for a long period of time. As with other drugs, this causes high concentrations of buprenorphine to be ever-present in your system, and eventually, your brain and body get used to it being there. When you stop or start lowering the dose, the physical dependence that is now in place creates similar withdrawal symptoms that buprenorphine was supposed to help you with.

Psychological dependence can also develop at the same time, and this often comes from a fear of relapsing and taking a stronger opioid again. This can leave you taking more and more buprenorphine and justifying it as necessary to stay off more dangerous drugs. Unfortunately, this reasoning can spiral into a daily habit where dependency on buprenorphine feels like a safer, lesser evil when, in reality, it is just trapping you differently.

Am I addicted to buprenorphine?

The best way to answer this question is to learn to identify the often subtle signs of buprenorphine addiction. This is often easier said than done, as you have likely been prescribed it for a genuine reason. However, there are some illuminating questions to ask yourself which could open your eyes to previously hidden symptoms of buprenorphine addiction:

Am I constantly hunting down extra buprenorphine from doctors or other sources?
Is there growing friction in my relationships because of my buprenorphine use?
Is my relationship with buprenorphine beginning to resemble that of my previous addiction?
Does a missed dose make me feel jittery or restless?
Is buprenorphine use making it hard for me to concentrate or remember things?
Am I spending more money on buprenorphine than I can really afford?
Have I lost sight of what I was taking buprenorphine for in the first place?

If these signs of buprenorphine addiction are sounding all too familiar, let them be the wake-up call you need to seek professional help.

Why do certain people become addicted to buprenorphine?

A mix of life experiences, individual challenges and even genetics can make some people more likely to become addicted to buprenorphine. Here are some reasons why you may be at higher risk:

A history of addiction

If you have a history of opioid abuse (which most buprenorphine users have), your brain may still be wired for addiction. This is especially true if you have not successfully resolved the root causes of your addiction through opioid rehab.

Stress, trauma and mental health conditions

When life is overwhelming or mental health issues are causing distress, buprenorphine may start feeling like a path to emotional escape. This psychological reliance can be hard to shake once it takes hold, especially if you are afraid of falling back into stronger opioid abuse.

A lack of support

Without a support network, going through recovery can feel isolating, making it easier to lean on buprenorphine to feel okay. When buprenorphine becomes your only source of comfort, it is easy for an emotional dependency to form.

A false sense of safety

Some people think buprenorphine is “safe” because it has been prescribed to them by their medical providers. This misunderstanding often leads to overuse without realising the potential consequences.

Easy availability

Buprenorphine is only available on prescription in the UK but can also be found through various illegal sources. The easier it is to get your hands on buprenorphine, the more likely buprenorphine abuse is to occur, potentially leading to addiction.

The dangers of buprenorphine addiction

When you are caught in buprenorphine addiction, the dangers can pile up fast. Here is just a snapshot of what you can end up facing:

Physical dangers: Prolonged buprenorphine abuse can seriously slow your breathing, especially if it is mixed with other depressants. Injecting buprenorphine also brings its own dangers, from infections to serious organ damage.
Mental health issues: Buprenorphine addiction can intensify mental health issues, from mood disorders to depression to severe anxiety. This can make both managing and overcoming buprenorphine addiction even more difficult.
Social life fallout: As buprenorphine begins to take precedence over all else, your relationships with friends and family can suffer enormously. It can also harm your work and school life, which can make your future very uncertain. All of this can leave you feeling increasingly isolated and misunderstood, and you end up escalating your drug use to cope with the loneliness and anxiety.
Financial and legal issues: The cost of buprenorphine addiction can add up fast, both from lost income due to work problems and the cost of the drug itself. Buprenorphine is also a Class-C drug in the UK, so illegal buprenorphine abuse, possession and dealing carry life-changing legal penalties.

How is buprenorphine addiction treated?

Recovery can seem like a massive undertaking, but at Recovery Lighthouse, we break buprenorphine addiction treatment down into clear, manageable steps:

Detox with medical support: Detox is about tapering you off buprenorphine as safely as possible. This can be frustrating because you likely started using buprenorphine when detoxing for another opioid, but it is crucial for breaking your physical reliance.
Opioid rehab: Next is a comprehensive programme of treatment therapies that focus on the deeper layers of buprenorphine addiction. These take place on both a one-to-one and group basis and include both traditional therapies and holistic approaches.
Post-rehab support: When treatment is done, you will have access to a year of weekly group therapy sessions for free and will be invited to join our Alumni network for life. All of this will help you adjust to life without buprenorphine.

Get help for buprenorphine addiction today

If buprenorphine addiction has taken over, you don’t have to face it alone. Recovery Lighthouse offers a supportive, step-by-step approach to help you regain control of your future. With compassionate care and a comprehensive recovery programme, we will help you rediscover life without buprenorphine. Reach out to us today to find out more.