title: Cases of buprenorphine abuse in India.
abstract: Buprenorphine was introduced as a potent analgesic with low abuse potential. Reports of buprenorphine abuse by opiate abusers have accumulated over the years, highlighting its use as a cheap alternative to heroin. The lower potency compared with heroin is being compensated by using a cocktail of buprenorphine with benzodiazepines or cyclizine. This study of 18 cases seen over 3 years broadly confirms these findings. Four cases reported haematemesis during acute withdrawal, a symptom not reported in earlier studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mattoo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Varma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016739:Behavior, Addictive; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D007194:India; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
chemical_list: D002047:Buprenorphine