This document discusses buprenorphine as an alternative treatment for opioid addiction. It summarizes several studies that have found buprenorphine to be as effective or more effective than methadone in treating opioid addiction. The studies show buprenorphine can normalize immune function impaired by opioids, reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings, and show better outcomes for pregnant women and newborns with fewer withdrawal symptoms. Brain imaging studies also demonstrate buprenorphine decreases cravings by changing brain activity. While methadone has been the standard treatment, this document argues buprenorphine is a safer and effective alternative based on the evidence from these studies.

1. Buprenorphine as an Alternative Treatment for Drug Addicts
Abstract
Opioids addiction affects a lot of people every day. Science everyday is looking for new ways to
treat these people to get out of this addiction. Methadone has been used for the last forty years
as the principal treatment for opioids patients. Lately, Buprenorphine is a new treatment that is
been used and new studies are made to find how efficient is this treatment. This paper present
different studies about how buprenorphine works on patients that were opioids users. These
studies look into effects and reactions of the patients when treated with buprenorphine. Most of
the studies discussed in this paper reported positive results when buprenorphine was used as a
treatment even when compared to methadone treatment.
Introduction conidine (0.150 mg Catapresan PL ®). This
The use of opioids like heroin is was administrated in addiction because
widely spread. Since the 70’s methadone has many of the patients in the treatment have
been the treatment used to treat patients that other addictions. For example many of them
want to get out of opioids. Buprenorphine is are alcoholic or smoke to; conidine is a
a new drug that has been used to treat these medication use to treat this other kinds of
patients. Several studies had been made to addictions. Is importance to maintain a
find out how effective this drug is. Most of control physiology on the patients for the
the studies discussed in this paper reflect best effect of the treatment. Additional
that the drug buprenorphine as treatment actions were taken such as, sedatives and
works better than methadone in most cases. psychological support among others.
Next, this paper presents the scheme of the Finally, the patients were placed under
buprenorfine treatment, its beneficial effects, psychological treatment, therapeutics
secondary effects, treatment during communities, group therapy among others
pregnancy and after delivery, brain response support groups.
to buprenorphine, and a comparison between The reason why these patients started
buprenorphine and methadone. using opioids varies; also they have different
Scheme of the Buprenorphine Treatment habits such as smoking and drinking
On a study made in 1994 in the alcohol. Most of the patients in this study
Sertox where the use of buprenorphine will had different reaction to the treatment. Some
be used as treatment for detoxification of of them needed a second treatment of
patients with addiction to opioids (AO). Ten buprenorphine and clonodine because they
patients that were treated at Sertox from are needed; only one of them presented total
January 1994 to May 1999 were selected to remission. After six months of the treatment
participate in this investigation. A only two patients presented total or partial
therapeutic scheme was developed to treat remission. After the patients finished their
these patients in this research. The treatment a support treatment must be placed
therapeutic scheme is as follow; initially if not most of these patients will go back to
compress doses of 0.216 mg of opioids. This study concluded that the
buprenorphine were administrated every six pharmalogical properties of buprenorphine
hours and was decreasing the doses are accepted by the patients and can be used
gradually by 50% every 48 hours until was as a tool to treat patients addicted to opioids.
totally suppressed. At the same time
maintenance for 28 was administrated using

2. Beneficial Effects of Buprenorphine is the patients responses to the need of opiod
But the effects on a drug against use. In the same study other patients
another drug can be beneficial or can harm presented decreased respiratory rate and
the receptor. The benefits of buprenorphine drowsiness. Also is shown that when the
compared to the effects of opiod are shown dose is doubled the patient can present a
through different studies. In a study made by close-dependent increase in analgesia.
Sacerdote et al. (2008) they found that the Analgesia is a condition denominated as the
use of opiod such as morphine and heroin absence of feel of pain in the body and many
can make changes in the immune system of times uncontiosness. In this study was found
a person. On the contrary, methadone and that the use of buprenorphine in some
buprenorphine can restore the immune patients can have a deficient in salivation
function and cytokine concentration. but normal saline was used to overcome this
Cytokine is a molecule that is secreted by problem. This study does not show any other
the cells in the immune system; this major secondary effects on patients the use
molecule helps to regulate the body. In a of buprenorphine on patients under
study made by Kapadia et al. (2005) and treatment.
cited by Sacerdote et al. (2008) was found
that a long lasting treatment with methadone Buprenorphine Treatment During
and buprenorphine normalized the HPA axis Pregnancy and After Delivering
when altered when using heroin. The HPA
axis is part of the hypothalamus which is Pregnancy is a time were women are
located in the brain; this part of the brain is susceptible to put the fetus in danger during
responsible for the communication between the use of any medicine. Any treatment must
the nervous system and the endocrine be supervised by a doctor that could offer
system. Many times this communication is the best medication for that mother and
damage because of drug abuse. Another child. Instead the use of a drug like
study made by Mei et al. (2010) presented buprenorphine during and after the birth of a
that a patient using buprenorphine as child can be an alternative for opioid
treatment shows a reduce withdrawal and patients. Most of the time the use of
craving for heroin. In addition, alleviates methadone has been the treatment preferred
negative reinforcement such as abstinence by physicians but has been found that
and heroin-related cues. This shows that the buprenorphine treatment is less harmful for
treatment of heroin addiction has it benefits the mother and the child. According to
when buprenorphine is used. Martin (2006) has been found that a
treatment with buprenorphine during
Secondary Effects of Buprenorphine pregnancy shows better results when using
Most of the drugs used to treat any methadone. Martin (2006) mentions that that
kind of illness have secondary effects. When half of the newborns show withdrawal after
buprenorphine is used on patients that are 72 hours after birth when using
under a treatment of opioids such as heroin buprenorphine. When women are treated
and as treatment of post operatory patient. with buprenorphine there is no evidence
On a research by Johnson et al. (2005) they showing that breastfeeding harms the baby,
found that after the treatment using since buprenorphine has poor
buprenorphine most of the patients bioavailability. Martin (2006) mentions that
presented nausea/vomiting and dizziness. a woman that is treated with buprenorphine
This symptoms seem to be normal because it during pregnancy a effort should be done to
prevent withdrawal. This is accomplished by

3. giving the mother an appropriate dose methadone as a treatment is because their
during pregnancy. previous experience with the drug. Pinto
says that patients that have been using
opioid for a long period of time had better
results when using methadone than
Brain Response to Buprenorphine
buprenorphine. Although the study made by
Through history science has move Pinto et al. (2010) proved that the patients
forward greatly. Technology has been a tool that were under buprenorphine achieved
that science had used to help their cause. sustained abstinence that those participants
The inclusion of scans to see how the brain using methadone. In addition, the patients
reacts in certain conditions has helped using methadone complained about more
science to help its patients. A study made by side effect that those using buprenorphine.
Mei et al. (2010) presented how the brain Pinto et al. (2010) explained that the patients
reacts when using heroin and buprenorphine using methadone had side effects such as;
using a MRI. This study showed a constipation, sweating, and sedation.
diminution of craving in 5 minutes when Otherwise, the patients using buprenorphine
using buprenorphine. In addition, the MRI showed sedation and constipation as a side
presented clear images of the brain resulting effect. This study presented that the
in objective images. According to Mei the treatment of buprenorphine has better results
scans illustrated that there were changes in than a treatment with methadone.
the brain reaction comparing the early stages
with the later stages of the study. This
means that buprenorphine was working and Conclusion
the evidence was clear during the scanning
process. The use of a MRI gave these Finally, the use of a new drug like
researchers the opportunity to see how the buprenorphine to treat people that use
different parts of the brain react to heroin opioids it is a new alternative that could
and buprenorphine; also they were able to work better for some patients that
compare those results. Mei compared its methadone does not show positive results.
study with the study made Langleden et al. As shown through this paper buprenorphine
(2008), cited in this article, both studies is a real alternative for those patients that are
found similar results. trying to start a new life without a
dependency of opioids such as heroin. As
Sacerdote (2008) pointed out that the
treatment of methadone and buprenorphine
Comparing Buprenorphine with
does not assure a good life style for those
Methadone
patients, but at least they seen to show a
Starting around the 1970’s good recovery of their immune system.
methadone has been the preferred treatment Although, one of the motivations is to give a
for heroin patients. Otherwise 52% of the better life style to those patients this aspect
healthcare providers view methadone must be worked out by the patient and its
treatment negatively, stills the preferred one. support group. The best alternative isn’t to
If compared to buprenorphine that has only start to use opioids products, this is
17% negative review, this is according to destroying people and families’ everyday
Pinto et al. (2010). Most of the healthcare and most of them never recover from this
professional agrees that the reason they use addiction. Buprenorphine offers to science a

4. new tool to treat drug addicts and as the
studies presented a safer treatment.
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