North asked
I was prescribed Butrans patches. I took a drug screening for employment and the results came back as I had taken an opioid blocker. Is that possible?
Answer
Yes, that is very possible as the active ingredient in the Butrans patches (Buprenorphine) is known as a mixed opioid medication. Mixed opioids have both stimulatory actions and blocking actions.
There are many different types of opioid receptors in the body. The three most common are the mu receptor, delta receptor and kappa receptor. Buprenorphine works as an agonist (stimulator) at the mu and delta opioid receptors and an antagonist (blocker) at the kappa receptor.
The mu receptors are the most well known opioid receptors and produce an alteration in the perception of pain upon stimulation. Examples of drugs that solely affect the mu receptor are morphine and codeine.
Acting at the kappa receptors in addition to the mu receptors is what makes buprenorphine a unique drug. Stimulation of the kappa receptors is associated with constriction of the pupils, trouble breathing and a general feeling of being unwell. Being an antagonist at this receptor, as buprenorphine is, negates or at least lessens these effects.
In fact, The first use and indication for buprenorphine was for patients who were dependent on opioid medication. It is currently thought that our bodies change when we become dependent on opioid drugs. We begin to have an increase in the kappa receptor activity in to balance out the mu-receptor stimulatory effects. This can cause patients who are not able to get a dose of their opioid medication to experience some nasty reactions. Studies have shown that patients taking buprenorphine experience less negative effects since it is blocking that kappa receptor. This is especially helpful if one were to try to wean off of and hopefully stop taking opioid medication all together.
So yes, the answer your question, most drug tests look for ALL opioid type medications. Buprenorphine specifically will come back as an opioid type drug and may come back as an opioid blocker as well. We answered a recent question regarding how long the drug actually stays in your system. You can find that answer here: /drug-test-for-buprenorphine-and-norbuprenorphine.html
It's always a good idea to let the individuals giving the drug test know that you are on the medication. Drug tests can often specify that you are only taking buprenorphine and not other narcotics
