Buprenorphine
Classification: AATC code: N02AE01, N07BC01
Summary
Buprenorphine is used both to treat pain and to treat opiod dependency. Both men and women have been shown beneficial effect in treatment of opioid dependency.
Based on the present evidence, there is no reason to generally differentiate the treatment in men and women. As with all opioids, the lowest effective dose should be used.
Additional information
The scientific literature indicates that pain behavior and pain perception may vary between men and women. This could be influenced by differences in pharmacokinetics, sex hormones, differences in stress response, or type of pain test. Also, many variables other than a person’s sex/gender account for individual differences in pain sensitivity. The prevalence of several clinical pain conditions is higher in women than in men, which suggests that either different clinical pain mechanisms may operate in men vs. women, or different or additional risk factors are relevant in one sex, or a combination of differences [1]. Therefore, sex differences of pain releasing medication might thus be difficult to interpret [2].
Pharmacokinetics and dosing
In a retrospective study, men and women received the same daily dose of sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone 16/4 mg. Women had higher AUC and Cmax for buprenorphine and the metabolites norbuprenorphine and norbuprenorphine-3-glucuronide. When the results were adjusted for lean body mass, there were no sex differences in AUCs [2].Pooled data from pharmacokinetic studies conducted by the sponsor showed no sex differences in Cmax and AUC. NONMEM analysis showed that increasing age and sex contributed to a 20% lower clearance. Since buprenorphine sublingual tablet (Subutex®) is a titratable drug and the predicted decrease in clearance is only 20%, no dosage adjustments are recommended [3].The effect of sex on transdermal buprenorphine pharmacokinetics has been investigated by the original manufacturer using analysis of pooled clinical pharmacology studies. No significant effect of sex was observed in Cmax and AUC [4].
Buprenorphine is dosed according to effect and thus individualized. Pharmacokinetic studies show no difference between men and women when correlated for bodyweight and age and thus, if these factors are considered similar doses should be used.
Effects
A randomized controlled study (104 men, 61 women) evaluating the impact of sex on opioid agonist treatment found both men and women to benefit from buprenorphine treatment (dosing 16-32 mg) [5].
Adverse effects
A randomized controlled trial found that no patients taking buprenorphine (36 men, 18 women) experienced a QT prolongation even though buprenorphine in vitro blocks the human hERG channel which is strongly associated with QT prolongation and a risk of Torsades de pointes ventricular tachycardia [6]. Among the known risk factors of drug-induced ventricular arrhythmias are female sex, hypokalemia, bradycardia, and base line QT-prolongation [7].
Reproductive health issues
Regarding teratogenic aspects, please consult Janusmed Drugs and Birth Defects (in Swedish, Janusmed fosterpåverkan).
Other information
One study on buprenorphine in patients with former drug abuse reported that women receiving buprenorphine had fewer illegitimate opioid-positive urine samples than men [8]. However, another study reported that women receiving buprenorphine showed greater rates of illegitimate opioid use than men [8]. These different results could be explained by different study designs and different durations of treatment, but also by differences in pharmacodynamics [9].
Updated: 2020-08-28
Date of litterature search: 2015-02-12
References
- Greenspan JD, Craft RM, LeResche L, Arendt-Nielsen L, Berkley KJ, Fillingim RB et al. Studying sex and gender differences in pain and analgesia: a consensus report. Pain. 2007;132 Suppl 1:S26-45. PubMed
- Dance A. Why the sexes don't feel pain the same way. Nature. 2019;567(7749):448-450. PubMed
- Moody DE, Fang WB, Morrison J, McCance-Katz E. Gender differences in pharmacokinetics of maintenance dosed buprenorphine. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2011;118:479-83. PubMed
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Clinical Pharmacology and Biopharmaceutics Review - SUBUTEX (buprenorphine) [updated 2002-10-08]. länk
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Clinical Pharmacology and Biopharmaceutics Review - BUTRANS (buprenorphine) [updated 2010-06-30]. länk
- Jones HE, Fitzgerald H, Johnson RE. Males and females differ in response to opioid agonist medications. Am J Addict. 2005;14:223-33. PubMed
- Wedam EF, Bigelow GE, Johnson RE, Nuzzo PA, Haigney MC. QT-interval effects of methadone, levomethadyl, and buprenorphine in a randomized trial. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167:2469-75. PubMed
- Roden DM. Drug-induced prolongation of the QT interval. N Engl J Med. 2004;350:1013-22. PubMed
- Johnson RE, Eissenberg T, Stitzer ML, Strain EC, Liebson IA, Bigelow GE. Buprenorphine treatment of opioid dependence: clinical trial of daily versus alternate-day dosing. Drug Alcohol Depend. 1995;40:27-35. PubMed
- Unger A, Jung E, Winklbaur B, Fischer G. Gender issues in the pharmacotherapy of opioid-addicted women: buprenorphine. J Addict Dis. 2010;29:217-30. PubMed
- Läkemedelsstatistik. Stockholm: Socialstyrelsen. 2015 [cited 2016-04-30.] länk
- Wändell P, Carlsson AC, Wettermark B, Lord G, Cars T, Ljunggren G. Most common diseases diagnosed in primary care in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2011. Fam Pract. 2013;30:506-13. PubMed
- Shega JW, Tiedt AD, Grant K, Dale W. Pain measurement in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project: presence, intensity, and location. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2014;69 Suppl 2:S191-7. PubMed
Reviewed by: Mia von Euler
Approved by: Karin Schenck-Gustafsson