Buprenex

Generic name: Buprenorphine Injection
Drug class: Opioids (narcotic analgesics)

Usage of Buprenex

Buprenex is an opioid medicine used to treat moderate to severe pain in adults and children at least 2 years old. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic.

Buprenex Injection is used to relieve moderate pain that is severe enough to require an opiate pain killer and for which other medicines (e.g., non-opiate pain killers or opiate-containing combination medicines) have not been, or are not expected to be sufficient.

Buprenorphine belongs to a class of medications called opiate partial agonists. Buprenex works by changing the way the body senses pain.acute pain.

This medication guide provides information about the Buprenex brand of buprenorphine injection. Sublocade is another brand of buprenorphine injection used to treat opioid addiction.

Buprenex side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Buprenex: hives, difficult breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Opioid medicine can slow or stop your breathing, and death may occur. A person caring for you should give naloxone and/or seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.

To make sure Buprenex is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

  • confusion, cold and clammy skin, slow breathing (breathing may stop);
  • feeling light-headed;
  • fast or uneven heart rate, shortness of breath;
  • blue lips or fingernails; or
  • severe constipation.

    • Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

    Serious breathing problems may be more likely in older adults and people who are debilitated or have wasting syndrome or chronic breathing disorders.

    Common Buprenex side effects may include:

  • drowsiness, slow breathing;
  • nausea, vomiting;
  • dizziness, vertigo (spinning sensation);
  • pinpoint pupils;
  • increased sweating; or
  • headache.

    • 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.

    Before taking Buprenex

    You should not use Buprenex if you are allergic to buprenorphine, or if you have:

  • severe asthma or breathing problems; or
  • a stomach or bowel obstruction (including paralytic ileus).

    • To make sure Buprenex is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea, or other breathing disorder;
  • a head injury, brain tumor, high pressure inside the skull, or seizures;
  • problems with your bile duct, gallbladder, pancreas, thyroid, or adrenal gland;
  • heart problems, an electrolyte imbalance (such as low blood levels of potassium or magnesium);
  • a drug or alcohol addiction, or mental illness;
  • enlarged prostate, urination problems;
  • curvature of the spine that affects breathing; or
  • liver or kidney disease.

    • Tell your doctor if you also use stimulant medicine, other opioid medicine, herbal products, or medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. An interaction with buprenorphine could cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.

    If you use buprenorphine during pregnancy, your baby could be born with life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, and may need medical treatment for several weeks.

    Do not breastfeed. Buprenorphine in breast milk can cause life-threatening side effects in a nursing baby.

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    How to use Buprenex

    Usual Adult Dose of Buprenex for Pain:

    Initial dose: 0.3 mg deep IM or slow IV (over at least 2 minutes); may repeat this dose once after 30 to 60 minutes if needed; then, 0.3 mg IV/IM every 6 hours as needed -A single 0.6 mg IM dose may be given to patients who are not in a high risk category (see Warnings) Maximum single dose: 0.3 mg (IV) or 0.6 mg (IM)

    Usual Pediatric Dose of Buprenex for Pain:

    2 to 12 years: Initial dose: 2 to 6 mcg/kg IM or slow IV every 4 to 6 hours -Some patients may not need to be remedicated for 6 to 8 hours; fixed interval or round the clock dosing should not be used until the proper inter-dose interval has been established Over 12 years: Initial dose: 0.3 mg deep IM or slow IV (over at least 2 minutes); may repeat this dose once after 30 to 60 minutes if needed; then, 0.3 mg IV/IM every 6 hours as needed Maximum single dose: 0.3 mg Comments: -Use extra caution with IV administration, especially the first dose. -Monitor closely for respiratory depression, especially within the first 24 to 72 hours. -Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration consistent with the individual patient's treatment goals. Use: For the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternate treatments are inadequate.

    Warnings

    Buprenex may be habit-forming. Misuse can cause addiction, overdose, or death.

    Using Buprenex during pregnancy may cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.

    Fatal side effects can occur if you use opioid medicine with alcohol, or with other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing.

    What other drugs will affect Buprenex

    You may have a fatal buprenorphine overdose if you start or stop using certain other medicines. Tell your doctor about all your medications.

    Many other drugs can be dangerous when used with opioid medicine. Tell your doctor if you also use:

  • medicine for allergies, asthma, blood pressure, motion sickness, irritable bowel, or overactive bladder;
  • other opioid medicines;
  • a benzodiazepine sedative like Valium, Klonopin, or Xanax; or
  • sleep medicine, muscle relaxers, or other drugs that make you drowsy.

    • This list is not complete and many other drugs may interact with Buprenex. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

    Popular FAQ

    When Buprenex is given as an intramuscular injection, pain relief can be felt within 15 minutes and usually lasts for 6 hours or longer. Intravenous Buprenex has a faster onset of pain relief and the peak effect is shorter.

    How long opioid withdrawal lasts depends on the opioid you have been taking and whether it is a short-acting or long acting opioid. If you have been using a short-acting opioid, acute opioid withdrawal lasts 4 to 10 days, with withdrawal symptoms starting 8 to 24 hours after last use. If you have been using a long-acting opioid, acute opioid withdrawal lasts 10 to 20 days, with withdrawal symptoms starting 12 to 48 hours after last use. Continue reading

    After one sublingual or buccal dose, buprenorphine stays in your system for about 5 to 8 days if you are healthy or 7 to 12 days if you have liver disease. Continue reading

    It is available in a number of dosage forms under the brand names Sublocade, Brixadi, Probuphine (discontinued), Belbuca, Butrans, Buprenex, and Subutex (discontinued). Continue reading

    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

    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

    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

    Yes, Buprenex is the brand name for an injectable form of buprenorphine. Buprenex (generic name: buprenorphine) is a potent opioid (narcotic) medication used to manage pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternate treatments are inadequate. Continue reading

    When Buprenex is given as an intramuscular injection, pain relief can be felt within 15 minutes and usually lasts for 6 hours or longer. Intravenous Buprenex has a faster onset of pain relief and the peak effect is shorter.

    How long opioid withdrawal lasts depends on the opioid you have been taking and whether it is a short-acting or long acting opioid. If you have been using a short-acting opioid, acute opioid withdrawal lasts 4 to 10 days, with withdrawal symptoms starting 8 to 24 hours after last use. If you have been using a long-acting opioid, acute opioid withdrawal lasts 10 to 20 days, with withdrawal symptoms starting 12 to 48 hours after last use. Continue reading

    After one sublingual or buccal dose, buprenorphine stays in your system for about 5 to 8 days if you are healthy or 7 to 12 days if you have liver disease. Continue reading

    It is available in a number of dosage forms under the brand names Sublocade, Brixadi, Probuphine (discontinued), Belbuca, Butrans, Buprenex, and Subutex (discontinued). Continue reading

    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

    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

    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

    Yes, Buprenex is the brand name for an injectable form of buprenorphine. Buprenex (generic name: buprenorphine) is a potent opioid (narcotic) medication used to manage pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternate treatments are inadequate. Continue reading

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