What are the different brands of buprenorphine?
What are the different brands of buprenorphine? What are the different dosage forms? What are they used for?
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist used to treat opioid use disorder and severe pain. It is available in a number of dosage forms under the brand names Belbuca, Brixadi, Buprenex, Butrans, Probuphine (discontinued), Sublocade, and Subutex (discontinued).
Buprenorphine was first approved for medical use in the United States in 1981. It belongs to the class of drugs called narcotic analgesics and is listed under Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) due to its potential for abuse.
Buprenorphine Formulations Available in the United States
| Brand | Dosage Form | Administration | Use | Company | Approved | Generic Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brixadi | extended release injection (subcutaneous) |
every week or every month |
opioid use disorder | Braeburn Inc. | 2023 | No |
| Sublocade | extended release injection (subcutaneous) | every month | opioid use disorder | Indivior Inc. | 2017 | No |
|
Probuphine |
implant (subdermal) | every six months | opioid dependence | Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 2016 | No |
| Belbuca | buccal film | once daily or every 12 hours | severe pain | BioDelivery Sciences International Inc. | 2015 | No |
| Butrans | transdermal system | every seven days | severe pain | Purdue Pharma LP | 2010 | Yes |
|
Subutex (discontinued) |
sublingual tablets | once daily | opioid dependence | Indivior Inc. | 2002 | Yes |
| Buprenex | injection (intravenous or intramuscular) | every 6 hours | severe pain | Indivior Inc. | 1981 | Yes |
For detailed information on buprenorphine dosage and administration, see Buprenorphine Dosage.
Related questions
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What is the difference between Sublocade and Brixadi?
Sublocade and Brixadi are both subcutaneous long-acting buprenorphine injections that may be used for the maintenance treatment of opioid misuse disorder in adults. Sublocade was approved on November 30, 2017, and Brixadi was approved on May 23, 2023. Sublocade is administered once a month, with a minimum of 26 days between doses. If extended travel is deemed necessary, a single 300mg injection may be given to cover 2 months. Brixadi is given once a week or once a month. Continue reading
What are the different types of buprenorphine/naloxone?
Buprenorphine and naloxone is a combination medicine used for the maintenance treatment of opioid dependence in adults. It is available in sublingual film and sublingual tablet dosage forms under the brand names Suboxone, Zubsolv, Bunavail (discontinued), and Cassipa (discontinued). Continue reading
How long do you take buprenorphine for?
There is no one-size-fits-all treatment duration for patients taking buprenorphine. There are many factors involved in determining the length of treatment when administering buprenorphine. Continue reading
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