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Published on: September 1, 2016
Intravenous buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine pharmacokinetics in humans
M A Huestis1, E J Cone, S O Pirnay
1Chemistry and Drug Metabolism, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, 251 Bayview Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. mhuestis@intra.nida.nih.gov
Background:
Prescribed sublingual (SL) buprenorphine is sometimes diverted for intravenous (IV) abuse, but no human pharmacokinetic data are available following high-dose IV buprenorphine.
Methods:
Plasma was collected for 72 h after administration of placebo or 2, 4, 8, 12, or 16 mg IV buprenorphine in escalating order (single-blind, double-dummy) in 5 healthy male non-dependent opioid users. Buprenorphine and its primary active metabolite, norbuprenorphine, were quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with limits of quantitation of 0.1 microg/L.
Results:
Maximum buprenorphine concentrations (mean ± SE) were detected 10 min after 2, 4, 8, 12, 16 mg IV: 19.3 ± 1.0, 44.5 ± 4.8, 85.2 ± 7.7, 124.6 ± 16.6, and 137.7 ± 18.8 microg/L, respectively. Maximum norbuprenorphine concentrations occurred 10-15 min (3.7 ± 0.7 microg/L) after 16 mg IV administration.
Conclusions:
Buprenorphine concentrations increased in a significantly linear dose-dependent manner up to 12 mg IV buprenorphine. Thus, previously demonstrated pharmacodynamic ceiling effects (over 2-16 mg) are not due to pharmacokinetic adaptations within this range, although they may play a role at doses higher than 12 mg.
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