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The National Alliance of Advocates
for Buprenorphine Treatment
Buprenorphine (Suboxone®, Subutex®) is an opioid medication used to treat opioid
addiction in the privacy of a physician's office.1 Buprenorphine can be dispensed
for take-home use, by prescription.1 This, in addition to the pharmacological
and safety
profile of buprenorphine, makes it an attractive treatment for patients addicted to opioids.2
Buprenorphine Overview
If you are just beginning to learn about Buprenorphine or want to explain it to someone, following are the most important points to know.
TOP 15 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
TO KNOW ABOUT BUPRENORPHINE TREATMENT
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| 1. | Eliminates cravings - and withdrawal symptoms in opioid dependent people. References |
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| 2. | Less abusable – does not produce strong euphoria like other opioids, likely to cause withdrawal if misused. References |
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| 3. | Ceiling effect – cannot achieve a “high” from taking more than prescribed. This means that someone cannot overdose on Buprenorphine alone, when taken sublingually. References |
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| 4. | Blocking effect – cannot get "high" from using other opiates (heroin, OxyContin, Vicodin, etc.) while taking Buprenorphine. References |
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| 5. | Safe – side effects are similar to, but milder than, the opioid someone is trying to discontinue. Does not impair or intoxicate the patient. References |
| 6. | Long lasting – up to 72 hours. References |
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| 7. | Fast-acting results – many people feel the effects within minutes of their first dose. References |
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| 8. | Prescribed in the privacy of a doctor’s office – no one needs to know except the doctor and the patient. Pick up medication weekly or monthly in a pharmacy not daily in a clinic. References |
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| 9. | Immediate return to work – no time lost to “adjusting” to the medication or stays in a rehabilitation facility. References |
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| 10. | When diverted to the streets, it is still used for its indication, not misused. Not a desirable choice for the misuser. References |
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| 11. | Required dosage does not increase with time (unlike with other opioids). References |
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| 12. | Has shown effectiveness in treating refractory depression and pain. References |
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| 13. | Because cravings are gone, it allows the individual to focus on the underlying reasons for the addiction. References |
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| 14. | Dependency is less likely than with other opioids and Buprenorphine is easier to discontinue. References |
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| 15. | Doctors must take an 8-hour class to prescribe and are limited by law, to only treating 30 patients at any one time. References |
This page was last modified on : 05/05/2009
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Talk Paper, T0238, October 8, 2002, Subutex and Suboxone approved to treat opiate dependence.
- Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Buprenorphine in the Treatment of Opioid Addiction. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 40. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 04-3939. Rockville, Md: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2004.