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Buprenorphine May Not Be as Safe as You Think: A Pediatric Fatality From Unintentional Exposure. Kim HK et al. Pediatrics 2012 Nov 5 [Epub ahead of print]
Abstract
Buprenorphine — a partial agonist at the opioid μ receptors as well as a κ receptor antagonist — is used to treat pain and opiate addiction as an alternative to methadone. Although it is thought to exhibit a “ceiling effect” on respiratory depression and thus be safer than methadone, deaths associated with buphenorphine have been reported in adults.
This case report, from the New York City Poison Control Center, describes a 13-month-old, 10.2 kg boy who was discovered with a single sublingual buphenorphine/naloxone (8 mg/2 mg) in his mouth. This was removed and he was put to bed. Eight hour…