What is buprenorphine?

buprenorphine patch is an opioid medication used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD), acute pain, and chronic pain.

Buprenorphine is used for opioid addiction to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms without causing euphoria or dangerous side effects and helps prevent relapse. It works by being a substitute for the drug being abused, so the patient has minimal discomfort, which allows the patient to focus on their recovery. Buprenorphine for OUD is used as part of a complete treatment program that also includes counseling and behavioral therapy.

For opioid use disorder, buprenorphine is available as long-acting injections (Sublocade, Brixadi) and sublingual tablets (Subutex discontinued, generics available).

Buprenorphine is used to treat acute pain that is severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and moderate to severe chronic pain that is not controlled by other medicines. For chronic around-the-clock pain, it is available as buprenorphine skin patches (Butrans) and buprenorphine buccal films (Belbuca), and for acute pain is available as an injection (Buprenex).

Buprenorphine-naloxone combinations are also available to be used for opioid addication and include sublingual film (Bunavail), sublingual film and sublingual tablets (Suboxone), and sublingual tablets (Zubsolv).

Buprenorphine’s mechanism of action is that is a partial agonist at the mu-opioid receptor and an antagonist at the kappa-opioid receptor.buprenorphine patch

buprenorphine patch

Yes, buprenorphine is a Schedule III controlled drug, which means it has a potential for abuse more than those in Schedules 4 and 5. If abused, it may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.

buprenorphine patch

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to buprenorphine or:

• If you have used another narcotic drug within the past 4 hours.To make sure this medication is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
  • methadone treatment;
  • breathing problems, sleep apnea;
  • abnormal curvature of the spine that affects breathing;
  • liver disease (especially hepatitis B or C);
  • kidney disease;
  • enlarged prostate, urination problems;
  • a head injury or brain tumor;
  • alcoholism, hallucinations, mental illness; or
  • problems with your stomach, gallbladder, adrenal gland, or thyroid.

  Pregnancy

  If you use buprenorphine while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks.buprenorphine patch