Medicine & USMLE

Buprenorphine

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Substance Use Disorder Treatments
  1. Buprenorphine
  2. Methadone
  3. Naltrexone

Summary

Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that activates opioid receptors to a lesser degree than full agonists like heroin.

Clinically, Buprenorphine is used as a long-term maintenance treatment to prevent opioid withdrawal in patients with opioid dependence.

The drug is administered as a sublingual film that dissolves under the tongue.

Key Points

  • Buprenorphine
    • Mechanism
      • Partial Opioid Agonist
        • Binds to and activates opioid receptors, but does not cause as much of a “high” as other opioids
    • Clinical Use
      • Prevents opioid withdrawal
        • Dependence transferred from illegal opioid to buprenorphine
        • Can cause withdrawal symptoms if used after full opioid agonists
      • Used for long-term maintenance
    • Administration
      • Sublingual film
        • Dissolves under the tongue