Buprenorphine Injection

Generic name: Buprenorphine Injection [ byoo-pre-NOR-feen ]
Brand name: Buprenex
Drug class: Opioids (narcotic analgesics)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 23, 2023.

Warning

This medicine may cause very bad and sometimes deadly breathing problems. Call your doctor right away if you have slow, shallow, or trouble breathing.
Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
This medicine has an opioid drug in it. Severe side effects have happened when opioid drugs were used with benzodiazepines or other drugs that may make you drowsy or slow your actions. This includes slow or troubled breathing and death. Benzodiazepines include drugs like alprazolam, diazepam, and lorazepam. Benzodiazepines may be used to treat many health problems like anxiety, trouble sleeping, or seizures. If you have questions, talk with your doctor.
Many drugs interact with buprenorphine injection and can raise the chance of side effects like deadly breathing problems. Talk with your doctor and pharmacist to make sure it is safe to use buprenorphine injection with all of your drugs.
Do not take with alcohol or products that have alcohol. Unsafe and sometimes deadly effects may happen.
Get medical help right away if you feel very sleepy, very dizzy, or if you pass out. Caregivers or others need to get medical help right away if the patient does not respond, does not answer or react like normal, or will not wake up.
Using buprenorphine injection for a long time during pregnancy may lead to withdrawal in the newborn baby. This can be life-threatening. Talk with the doctor.
This medicine is a strong pain drug that can put you at risk for addiction, abuse, and misuse. Misuse or abuse of buprenorphine injection can lead to overdose and death. Talk with your doctor.
You will be watched closely to make sure you do not misuse, abuse, or become addicted to buprenorphine injection.
Do not take more than what your doctor told you to take. Taking more than you are told may raise your chance of very bad side effects.
The chance of very bad and sometimes deadly breathing problems may be greater when you first start buprenorphine injection or anytime your dose is raised.
Even one dose of buprenorphine injection may be deadly if it is taken by someone else or by accident, especially in children. If buprenorphine injection is taken by someone else or by accident, get medical help right away.

Uses of Buprenorphine Injection:

It is used to ease pain.
It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.

What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take Buprenorphine Injection?

If you have an allergy to buprenorphine or any other part of buprenorphine injection.
If you are allergic to buprenorphine injection; any part of buprenorphine injection; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
If you have any of these health problems: Lung or breathing problems like asthma, trouble breathing, or sleep apnea; high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood; or stomach or bowel block or narrowing.
If you have liver disease.
If you or a family member have a long QT on ECG.
If you are taking any of these drugs: Butorphanol, nalbuphine, or pentazocine.
If you are using another drug that has the same drug in it.
If you are taking any of these drugs: Certain drugs to treat a heartbeat that is not normal like amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, procainamide, quinidine, or sotalol.
If you are taking any drugs that can cause a certain type of heartbeat that is not normal (prolonged QT interval). There are many drugs that can do this. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
If you have taken certain drugs for depression or Parkinson's disease in the last 14 days. This includes isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, selegiline, or rasagiline. Very high blood pressure may happen.
If you are taking any of these drugs: Linezolid or methylene blue.
If you are breast-feeding. Do not breast-feed while you take buprenorphine injection.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with buprenorphine injection.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take buprenorphine injection with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take Buprenorphine Injection?

Tell all of your health care providers that you take buprenorphine injection. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until you see how buprenorphine injection affects you.
To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down. Be careful going up and down stairs.
Very bad and sometimes deadly liver problems have happened with buprenorphine injection. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of liver problems like dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.
Long-term use of an opioid drug may lead to lower sex hormone levels. Call your doctor if you have a lowered interest in sex, fertility problems, no menstrual period (women), or change in sex ability (men).
This medicine may raise the chance of seizures in some people, including people who have had seizures in the past. Talk to your doctor to see if you have a greater chance of seizures while taking buprenorphine injection.
Taking an opioid drug like buprenorphine injection may lead to a rare but very bad adrenal gland problem. Call your doctor right away if you have very bad dizziness or passing out, very bad upset stomach or throwing up, or if you feel less hungry, very tired, or very weak.
If you are 65 or older, use buprenorphine injection with care. You could have more side effects.
This medicine may cause harm to the unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant. If you are pregnant or you get pregnant while taking buprenorphine injection, call your doctor right away.
Long-term or regular use of opioid drugs like buprenorphine injection may lead to dependence. Lowering the dose or stopping buprenorphine injection all of a sudden may cause a greater risk of withdrawal or other severe problems. Talk to your doctor before you lower the dose or stop buprenorphine injection. You will need to follow your doctor’s instructions. Tell your doctor if you have more pain, mood changes, thoughts of suicide, or any other bad effects.
If you have been taking buprenorphine injection for a long time or at high doses, it may not work as well and you may need higher doses to get the same effect. This is known as tolerance. Call your doctor if buprenorphine injection stops working well. Do not take more than ordered.

How is this medicine (Buprenorphine Injection) best taken?

Use buprenorphine injection as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

Do not take buprenorphine injection with other strong pain drugs or if you are using a pain patch without talking to your doctor first.
If you drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit often, talk with your doctor.
Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
This medicine may cause withdrawal symptoms if you are dependent or addicted to narcotics. Talk with your doctor.
It is given as a shot into a muscle or vein.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor to find out what to do.

What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Sweating a lot.
Fast, slow, or abnormal heartbeat.
Feeling nervous and excitable.
Fever, chills, or sore throat.
Change in balance.
Mood changes.
Severe constipation or stomach pain. These may be signs of a severe bowel problem.
Extra muscle action or slow movement.
Swelling in the arms or legs.
Change in eyesight.
A burning, numbness, or tingling feeling that is not normal.
Trouble speaking.
Chest pain or pressure or passing out.
Trouble passing urine.
Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there).
Muscle or joint pain.
Memory problems or loss.
Seizures.
Shakiness.
Slurred speech, stumbling, or feeling confused, very sleepy or dizzy, or drunk.
Not able to focus.
A severe and sometimes deadly problem called serotonin syndrome may happen if you take buprenorphine injection with certain other drugs. Call your doctor right away if you have agitation; change in balance; confusion; hallucinations; fever; fast or abnormal heartbeat; flushing; muscle twitching or stiffness; seizures; shivering or shaking; sweating a lot; severe diarrhea, upset stomach, or throwing up; or severe headache.
Irritation where the shot is given.

What are some other side effects of Buprenorphine Injection?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

Constipation.
Upset stomach or throwing up.
Stomach pain or diarrhea.
Feeling dizzy, sleepy, tired, or weak.
Headache.
Trouble sleeping.
Back pain.
Dry mouth.
Signs of a common cold.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out Buprenorphine Injection?

If you need to store buprenorphine injection at home, talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to store it.
Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.