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Intranasal Use of Buprenorphine: A Case Report on Non-Sublingual Routes and Associated Risks From Iran Publisher



Massah O1 ; Radfar SR2 ; Farhoudian A3
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Substance Abuse and Dependence Researcher Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Neuroscience and Addiction, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine (SATiM), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Published:2025


Abstract

Introduction: Buprenorphine is a partial agonist of the μ-opioid receptor and one of the main drugs used for maintenance treatment of opioid use disorder. The widespread misuse of buprenorphine, particularly via non-sublingual routes, poses significant health risks. Case Presentation: This paper presents a detailed case study of a 39-year-old male with a history of polydrug use, focusing on the respiratory complications arising from intranasal buprenorphine use, which he had been snorting for the past three years. Conclusions: It appears that buprenorphine snorting can lead to serious and irreversible injuries and complications, including congestion and erythema of the nasal mucosa, deviation and perforation of the middle nasal septum, chronic sinusitis, and reduced sleep quality. © 2025, Massah et al.
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