Myocardial Infarction Associated with Buprenorphine
Authors: Jean-Luc Cracowski
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1999)

Letters16 March 1999Myocardial Infarction Associated with BuprenorphineJean-Luc Cracowski, MD, Michel Mallaret, MD, and Gérald Vanzetto, MD, PhDJean-Luc Cracowski, MDGrenoble University Hospital; 38043 Grenoble Cedex 09, France (Cracowski)Grenoble University Hospital; 38043 Grenoble Cedex 09, France (Mallaret)Grenoble University Hospital; 38043 Grenoble Cedex 09, France (Vanzetto), Michel Mallaret, MDGrenoble University Hospital; 38043 Grenoble Cedex 09, France (Cracowski)Grenoble University Hospital; 38043 Grenoble Cedex 09, France (Mallaret)Grenoble University Hospital; 38043 Grenoble Cedex 09, France (Vanzetto), and Gérald Vanzetto, MD, PhDGrenoble University Hospital; 38043 Grenoble Cedex 09, France (Cracowski)Grenoble University Hospital; 38043 Grenoble Cedex 09, France (Mallaret)Grenoble University Hospital; 38043 Grenoble Cedex 09, France (Vanzetto)Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-130-6-199903160-00011 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Buprenorphine, a mixed opioid agonist-antagonist, has been available in France since 1996 as a treatment for opioid dependence. Buprenorphine has been abused by persons intravenously injecting crushed tablets. Administration is usually associated with hypotension (1) and has potential cardioprotective effects (2).On February 1998, a 22-year-old man snorted an 8-mg crushed tablet of buprenorphine. Two hours later, he experienced 5 minutes of chest pain at rest that spontaneously resolved. Three weeks later, similar pain occurred 2 hours after buprenorphine inhalation. The initial electrocardiogram suggested an acute anterior myocardial infarction. In the intensive coronary care unit, the pain ...References1. Khan FA, Kamal RS. The effect of increasing dose of buprenorphine on the haemodynamic response associated with tracheal intubation. Anaesthesia. 1996;51:274-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Boachie-Ansah G, Sitsapesan R, Kane KA, Parratt JR. The antiarrhythmic and cardiac electrophysiological effects of buprenorphine. Br J Pharmacol. 1989;97:801-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Knuepfer MM, Gan QI. Effects of proposed treatments for cocaine addiction on hemodynamic responsiveness to cocaine in conscious rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1997;283:592-603. MedlineGoogle Scholar4. Mayer EL, Jacobsen DW, Robinson K. Homocysteine and coronary atherosclerosis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1996;27:517-27. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Tracqui A, Tournoud C, Flesch F, Kopferschmitt J, Kintz P, Deveaux M, et al . Intoxications aiguës par traitement substitutif à base de buprénorphine haut dosage. 29 observations cliniques—20 cas mortels. Presse Med. 1998;27:557-61. MedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Jean-Luc Cracowski, MD; Michel Mallaret, MD; Gérald Vanzetto, MD, PhDAffiliations: Grenoble University Hospital; 38043 Grenoble Cedex 09, France (Cracowski)Grenoble University Hospital; 38043 Grenoble Cedex 09, France (Mallaret)Grenoble University Hospital; 38043 Grenoble Cedex 09, France (Vanzetto) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byBuprenorphine-Related Deaths in North Carolina from 2010 to 2018BuprenorphineFatal poisoning due to snorting buprenorphine and alcohol consumptionOPIOID RECEPTOR AGONISTS AND ANTAGONISTSADVERSE CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF NON-CARDIOVASCULAR DRUGSBuprenorphineBuprenorphine: Considerations for Pain ManagementAbstracts of the European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists XXV International CongressEffects of High-Dose Intravenous Buprenorphine in Experienced Opioid AbusersOpioid analgesics and narcotic antagonistsBuprenorphine abuse 16 March 1999Volume 130, Issue 6Page: 537KeywordsCocaineCoronary arteriesElectrocardiographyHypotensionImmunoassaysInhalationIschemiaMyocardial infarctionOpioidsUrine ePublished: 15 August 2000 Issue Published: 16 March 1999 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1999 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...