buprenorphine and Urinary-Retention

Topics: Analgesia; Anesthesia, General; Buprenorphine; Double-Blind Method; Humans; Injections, Spinal; Morphine; Pain, Postoperative; Thoracotomy; Urinary Retention

We describe the case of a young male patient who had consumed the morphine-like substance AH-7921 which is available via the internet. He was initially admitted to hospital because of obstipation and presented within a day of inpatient treatment for the first time with a generalized tonic-clonic epileptic seizure with subsequent urinary retention. Within a few hours, the patient then also developed bradycardia, while at the same time describing symptoms of physical opioid withdrawal which gradually deteriorated within the following hours. We initiated a treatment with buprenorphine which resulted in a considerable reduction of withdrawal symptoms, so the patient could be discharged from hospital.

Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Benzamides; Buprenorphine; Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic; Humans; Male; Narcotic Antagonists; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Urinary Retention; Young Adult

Urinary retention is associated with buprenorphine, particularly with epidural/intrathecal delivery. However, it is rare with oral administration. This case report illustrates an occurrence of acute urinary retention after initiation of oral buprenorphine/naloxone.

Topics: Acute Disease; Buprenorphine; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Urinary Retention