Can I use Subutex if I have a history of lung disease?

If you have a history of lung disease, talk to your doctor before taking Subutex (buprenorphine), a medicine that helps treat opioid addiction. Subutex may cause slowed breathing or difficulty breathing, so it should be used with caution in people who already have breathing problems. Your doctor may want to monitor you especially closely while you take Subutex. Alternatively, he or she may decide that Subutex is not the right drug for you.

If you go on Subutex, take it exactly as your doctor tells you. Do not inject it, which can raise your risk of serious breathing problems. Do not take any other drug that causes sleepiness or slows down your breathing when you are taking Subutex. Examples of these drugs include sedatives, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, antihistamines, antidepressants, antianxiety medicines and some painkillers. You should also avoid drinking alcohol because combining it with Subutex can increase your risk for breathing problems.

Before you start taking Subutex, give your doctor and pharmacist a list of all your other medicines (prescription and nonprescription) and supplements. Once you're on Subutex, do not take any new drug or supplement without checking with your doctor and pharmacist first.