buprenorphine to treat depression

bizi · 09-20-2008, 10:22 AM

Any one ever hear of this treatment before?

Quote:

Method of administering buprenorphine to treat depression
Document Type and Number:
European Patent EP1795189 Kind Code:
A2

Abstract:
A method of treating depression using transdermal delivery of buprenorphine is described. In one embodiment, the method employs transdermal patches comprising buprenorphine, preferably escalating incrementally the buprenorphine dose to a level where one or more symptoms of depression are alleviated. The method is particularly suitable for r patients suffering from refractory depression, or for patients suffering from both depression and pain.

Buprenorphine for depression?
by Chris Strosser
5/14/07
Until the mid-1950s, opiates were used to treat major depression; however, their high potential for abuse and addiction, and the introduction of new anti-depressants made opiates take a backseat for a while. In 1995, clinical trials were done with buprenorphine to reevaluate the possibility of using opioids for treatment-resistant, otherwise known as refractory depression. Buprenorphine is considered a partial opioid agonist; it acts as an agonist at mu-opioid receptors and an antagonist at kappa-opioid receptors.
Participants in the clinical trials were given 0.15 mg of buprenorphine either sublingually or intranasally every morning, some achieving the maximum dose of 1.8 mg. The size of the dose given was determined by clinical benefit, and side effects. Four of the ten participants in the trials achieved complete remission, and two had slight improvements, which indicate buprenorphine may be an effective treatment for refractory depression. The results, however limited, serve to remind us of the potential opioids have for treating depression. 10-15% of the depressed population do not respond to traditional anti-depressants, and buprenorphine may be the answer.

bizi · 09-20-2008, 10:49 AM

http://www.google.com/search?q=Subox...e7&rlz=1I7ADBR

FYI
bizi

Brokenfriend · 09-20-2008, 10:51 AM

Sounds great. Can you forward that to,"Sade One". She is trying to go back to work so she may not read it right away. Thanks. BF

BJ could use that info also.

mistiis · 09-20-2008, 12:51 PM

WOW...that is really interesting. I had read somewhere else, don't recall where right now, about how some opiates can serve as "novel anti-depressants' My son tried one anti-depressant after another and, like me, is unable to take them. He is on suboxone right now and it has made a HUGE difference for him.

mrsD · 09-20-2008, 01:11 PM

often occurs in the elderly. There is a form of depression associated with elevated levels of Substance P. Substance P is elevated in pain states.

At one time there were drugs in the pipeline to approach it this way. But they did not pan out well. Merck had one, that was redirected to nausea of chemo therapy.
http://www.emend.com/aprepitant/emen...umer/index.jsp
They are charging mega mondo bucks for 3 tablets of THIS.
Like way over $100 a pill.

I'll have to look this up. If I find any information on this
depression link with buprenorphine I'll post it here. Opiates also work for some OCD patients.

Some opiates release serotonin and this might be the link.
Oxycodone for example is a big releaser.

Buprenorphine is habit forming however.

pin653@yahoo.com · 10-04-2008, 01:31 PM

Having suffered from severe refractory, recurrent uni-polar depression and chronic low back pain since 1990, I have been on oxycodone, morphine, fentanyl for pain, with only partial relief. I also tried Bupropion, Prozac, Prozac/Cylert combination, Zoloft, methadone, heroin (wow), neurontin, remeron, amitrypaline, et al, with no remedy. One day, I woke up feeling as miserable as ever and only had a 8 mg Subutext left in my first aid kit. I cut it into quarters (2 mg each) and put a piece under my tongue. After about 45 minutes, I felt better than I had in 20 years! That was 2 and a half years ago and it has never let me down, since! I take 8-12 mgs/day in divided doses, and have not had any untoward side effects. It seems to make me more comfortable in my body than any other opiate/opioid, as well as complete immunity to the oppressive feelings of impending doom experienced while depressed. The only on-label indication for subutex/suboxone is for opiod withdrawals. All I can say is, if they haven't heard of bubrenorphine, they will, and it needs to be investigated for depression or any dysphoric condition. Also, THC increases the effects of fenanyl, buprenorphine and other opiates by up to 10X! (Do google advanced
search including all of the words: buprenorphine THC antinociception), if you don't believe me.

Good luck with reducing all human suffering at every opportunity, that's my purpose in life!

Bill

billkinsman · 11-25-2008, 12:36 AM

I would like to add a few more comments. I have been getting messages (one apparently from a doctor) indicating that Subutex/ Suboxone or buprenorphine cannot be prescibed for any other off-label indication, which is limited to opioid withdrawal symptoms. Further stating that "This would be assuming that I wouldn't sue for getting me addicted!" I don't know what they know about refractory depression, but you can tolerate opiod withdrawals much more easily than being depressed without remedy. At least you'll get through it! This one person should have been a lawyer, instead of a healer. I don't even know why you would want to stop taking something that was continuously making you feel better. I mean, do they worry about people becoming addicted to insulin, blood-pressure medicine or Viagra? Opiophobia runs very deep and is not based in science. I hope I live long enough to see the end of this insane, endless drug war! Drug-free America, indeed! If there there weren't any drugs in America, everyone would leave.

Anyway, you need to find a doctor who is certified in addiction medicine as well as pain mnagement in order to avoid any legal issues, which is certainly possible. Especially if you go to your GP or shrink, you ask for buprnorphine and you get (after they look it up online), "You want WHAT? I can't prescribe this for you! I would have to take a special 8 hour class on addiction management!" Meaning they would have to learn something new, which is out of the question.

There is a will, there is a way!

mrsD · 11-25-2008, 08:24 AM

have to be specially licensed to prescribe this drug.

Regular doctors cannot do it, unless they apply for the special
license. (they call it a waiver)

http://buprenorphine.samhsa.gov/bwns_locator/index.html

I have only had ONE patients on this drug (he was being withdrawn from
fentanyl patches for pain).

g-man · 01-06-2009, 06:09 PM

Suboxone (aka methadone-lite) was prescribed to me for depression. I was on it a year and a half. After a few weeks it kicked in and I felt better-than-normal, slightly manic. It was awesome. I thought maybe this is how happy people feel all the time. That lasted about four months.

Then my depression came back and stayed for nine months. During this time, I was treating sub like the opiate that it is: I couldn't wait to get home from work and dose up (12 to 16 mg) to feel better for the evening (and not leave the house to interact with anyone).

Last Sept, my depression lifted (I changed nothing), so I decided to get off sub. I only had partial insurance for the script and none for the mandatory monthly psych appt, so it was making me live beyond my means, my meager savings dwindling.

I've been struggling with withdrawals on and off since then. It is now Jan sixth, and I have been completely off the drug for eight days, and I'm still in acute withdrawal (although slowly improving). Sub has a very long half-life (only methadone is longer for an opiate), so, like methadone, withdrawals are much longer than with short-acting opiates like herion or oxycontin. And for many, just as intense at times.

Therefore, be warned. You can stay on this drug the rest of your life and never go thru w/d, but if your insurance or economic situation changes and you can no longer afford sub, you WILL be dopesick.

My doc always downplayed the w/d and said no big deal. He tapered me way too fast around Thanksgiving (4mg to 0mg). Then he put me back on it at a slower taper and I got just as sick when I went from 1mg to 0mg). I've since read that other docs do it much slower, but I'm just gonna stick it out even though I'm having to borrow money to pay bills because I've missed so much work. Beware if your doc downplays the w/d, this affects most long-term users. Sub may be a wonderful drug for 7 to 21 -day detoxes, but not so good for long term use!

I had been thru bad w/d before after back surgery and I-V dilaudid, and if the doc told me about sub w/d, I would not have chosen to be on it.

Just be informed.

taco1979 · 01-08-2009, 04:37 PM

Opiates help some people with depression because the people have low endorphins..I have never heard anything about oxycodone being a releaser of serotonin. Contrary to what the medical establishment wants you to believe, serotonin is NOT the only chemical involved in a person's mood. If someone has taken evey "serotonin releaser" known and not one had any effect and the moment they take an opiate, they feel fine (and NOT drugged/high/manic) that stands to reason that endorphins are the issue. NOT SEROTONIN.

I'm not a doctor but I know from my own experience and the copious amounts of research I have done.

Quote:

"Buprenorphine is habit forming however.

"

Okay, where do I start.....EVERY ANTIDEPRESSANT I HAVE TAKEN IS HABIT FORMING. Wanna know how I know? Because when I take a month to slowly wean off of them, I feel like my brain and body are being electrocuted and I am in a constant state of low-grade naseau. Benzos are habit forming.
We are talking about a treatment (buprenorphine) that will keep people from taking their entire cabinet full of medications all at once. If this drug works for you, IT MEANS YOUR BODY NEEDS IT!
Just like a diabetic.
Would you say "Insulin is habit forming however."
Your statement make implications. IT SCARES PEOPLE who otherwise don't know the difference. It will make people who are just starting to look into this treatment (TO SAVE THEIR LIFE) stop searching...

If I was scared and depressed and suicidal (as those with refractory depression often are) and I had never heard of this treatment before...and I read your statement, I would probably remember that and not take this treatment seriously.
"I don't want to become an addict" I'd think.

Many people are duped by the system and don't have any clue that the antidepressants they take are VERY LIKELY habit forming.

If your body needs something because it's not making the chemicals on its own (endorphins), YES, YOUR BODY WILL CONTINUE TO NEED IT. IT WILL BE HABIT FOR FORMING.

BUT......

That's okay! It's better than the alternative.....living a life of complete misery...trying antidepressant after antidepressant....suffering with the side effects AND WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS....
until you get fed up and kill yourself.

Yes, buprenorphine should only be a last resort for those with Refractory Depression...and suicide is a very frequent thought for those of us with it.