Generic Name: buprenorphine (oral) (byoo pre NOR feen)
Brand Names: Subutex
What is buprenorphine?
Buprenorphine is an opioid (narcotic) medication that is similar to morphine.
Buprenorphine is used to treat narcotic addiction.
Buprenorphine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about buprenorphine?
Using buprenorphine improperly will increase your risk of serious side effects or death. Even if you have used other narcotic medications, you may still have serious side effects from buprenorphine. Follow all dosing instructions carefully.
Like other narcotic medicines, buprenorphine can slow your breathing. Death may occur if breathing becomes too weak.
Never crush a tablet or other pill to mix into a liquid for injecting the drug into your vein. This practice has resulted in death with the misuse of buprenorphine and similar prescription drugs. Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card stating that you take buprenorphine, in case of emergency. Any doctor, dentist, or emergency medical care provider who treats you should know that you are being treated for narcotic addiction. Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of buprenorphine. Using too much of this medicine in addition to drinking alcohol can cause death. Do not stop using buprenorphine suddenly after long-term use, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using buprenorphine. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely. Buprenorphine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking buprenorphine?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to buprenorphine or naloxone (Narcan), or if you have used another narcotic drug within the past 4 hours.
To make sure you can safely take buprenorphine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, or other breathing disorders;
liver disease (especially hepatitis B or C);
kidney disease;
a thyroid disorder;
stomach problems;
enlarged prostate, urination problems;
gallbladder disease;
curvature of the spine;
Addison's disease (an adrenal gland disorder);
a history of mental illness, personality disorder, or psychotic episode;
a history of drug or alcohol addiction; or
a history of seizures, head injury, or brain tumor.
Buprenorphine may be habit forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Never share buprenorphine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Buprenorphine can cause withdrawal effects in a person who is addicted to narcotics. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether buprenorphine will harm an unborn baby. Buprenorphine may cause addiction or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn if the mother takes the medication during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using buprenorphine. Buprenorphine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using buprenorphine. Do not give this medication to a child.
How should I take buprenorphine?
Never take buprenorphine in larger amounts, or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Using buprenorphine improperly will increase your risk of serious side effects or death. Even if you have used other narcotic medications, you may still have serious side effects from buprenorphine. Follow all dosing instructions carefully. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain. Never crush a tablet or other pill to mix into a liquid for injecting the drug into your vein. This practice has resulted in death with the misuse of buprenorphine and similar prescription drugs.
The buprenorphine sublingual tablet should be placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve. Do not chew the tablet or swallow it whole. If your doctor has prescribed more than 2 tablets per dose, place the correct number of tablets under your tongue at the same time and allow them to dissolve completely.
Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card stating that you take buprenorphine, in case of emergency. Any doctor, dentist, or emergency medical care provider who treats you should know that you are being treated for narcotic addiction. Make sure your family members know you are using buprenorphine in case they need to speak for you during an emergency.
To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your liver function will need to be checked with frequent blood tests. Visit your doctor regularly.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using buprenorphine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time. Do not stop using buprenorphine suddenly after long-term use, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using buprenorphine. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Buprenorphine is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of buprenorphine can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness or weakness, cold or clammy skin, pinpoint pupils, fainting, slow heart rate, weak pulse, weak or shallow slowed breathing (breathing may stop).
What should I avoid while taking buprenorphine?
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of buprenorphine. Using too much of this medicine in addition to drinking alcohol can cause death. Buprenorphine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
Buprenorphine side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Like other narcotic medicines, buprenorphine can slow your breathing. Death may occur if breathing becomes too weak.
Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
slow or shallow breathing;
feeling light-headed, fainting;
confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior; or
nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:
headache;
stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation;
warmth or tingly feeling;
chills, increased sweating;
weakness;
back pain;
anxiety, depression;
sleep problems (insomnia); or
runny nose.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect buprenorphine?
Do not take buprenorphine with any other narcotic pain medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, or other medicines that can make you sleepy or slow your breathing. Dangerous side effects may result.
Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:
conivaptan (Vaprisol);
imatinib (Gleevec);
isoniazid (for treating tuberculosis);
nefazodone;
an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin, Pediazole), rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane), or telithromycin (Ketek);
antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or miconazole (Oravig);
heart or blood pressure medication such as nicardipine (Cardene) or quinidine (Quin-G);
HIV/AIDS medicine such as atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), saquinavir (Invirase), or ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra); or
a sedative such as diazepam (Valium), midazolam (Versed), alprazolam (Xanax) lorazepam (Ativan), clorazepate (Tranxene), triazolam (Halcion), flurazepam (Dalmane), or temazepam (Restoril).
This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with buprenorphine. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
More Subutex resources
- Subutex Side Effects (in more detail)
- Subutex Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Drug Images
- Subutex Drug Interactions
- Subutex Support Group
- 39 Reviews for Subutex - Add your own review/rating
- Subutex MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Subutex Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Buprenex Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Buprenex Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Buprenex MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Buprenorphine Hydrochloride Monograph (AHFS DI)
- Butrans Patch MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Butrans Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Butrans Consumer Overview
Compare Subutex with other medications
- Opiate Dependence
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist has information about buprenorphine written for health professionals that you may read.
See also: Subutex side effects (in more detail)
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