Buprenorphine

What it is used for

Buprenorphine sublingual tablet is indicated for the treatment of opioid dependence and is preferred for induction. Buprenorphine sublingual tablet should be used as part of a complete treatment plan to include counseling and psychosocial support. Buprenorphine sublingual tablet, contains buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, and is indicated for the treatment of opioid dependence and is preferred for induction.

Buprenorphine sublingual tablet should be used as part of a complete treatment plan that includes counseling and psychosocial support.

The most important thing to know

Buprenorphine sublingual tablet contains a medicine called buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is an opioid that can cause serious and life-threatening breathing problems, especially if you take or use certain other medicines or drugs. Talk to your healthcare provider about naloxone. Naloxone is a medicine that is available to patients for the emergency treatment of an opioid overdose, including accidental use of buprenorphine sublingual tablet by a child.

If naloxone is given, you must call 911 or get emergency medical help right away to treat an overdose or accidental use of an opioid. Buprenorphine sublingual tablets may cause serious and life‐threatening breathing problems. Get emergency help right away if you: feel faint feel dizzy are confused feel sleepy or uncoordinated have blurred vision have slurred speech are breathing slower than normal cannot think well or clearly

How to take it

Read the Instructions for Use at the end of this Medication Guide for detailed instructions on how to take buprenorphine sublingual tablet. Take buprenorphine sublingual tablet exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider may change your dose after seeing how it affects you. Do not change your dose unless your healthcare provider tells you to change it.

Do not take buprenorphine sublingual tablet more often than prescribed by your healthcare provider. Buprenorphine sublingual tablets is not for occasional or “as needed” use. If you are prescribed a dose of 2 or more buprenorphine sublingual tablets at the same time: Ask your healthcare provider for instructions on the right way to take buprenorphine sublingual tablet.

Follow the same instructions every time you take a dose of buprenorphine sublingual tablet. Take the entire buprenorphine sublingual tablet. Do not cut, chew, or swallow buprenorphine sublingual tablet because the medicine will not work as well. After buprenorphine sublingual tablet is completely dissolved, rinse your mouth with water and swallow.

Wait for at least one hour before brushing your teeth. Report any problems with your teeth immediately to your healthcare provider and schedule an appointment with a dentist. Tell your dentist that you have started taking buprenorphine sublingual tablets. If you miss a dose of buprenorphine sublingual tablet, take it as soon as you remember.

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take 2 doses at the same time unless your healthcare provider tells you to. If you are not sure about your dosing, call your healthcare provider. Dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused buprenorphine sublingual tablets by promptly flushing down the toilet (if a drug take-back option is not readily available).

Visit www.fda.gov/drugdisposal for additional information on disposal of unused medicines. If you take too many buprenorphine sublingual tablets or overdose, call Poison Control or get emergency medical help right away.

Side effects, and when to stop

Buprenorphine sublingual tablets can cause serious side effects, including: Trouble breathing. Taking buprenorphine sublingual tablets with other opioid medicines, benzodiazepines, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants can cause breathing problems that can lead to coma and death. Sleepiness, dizziness, and problems with coordination.

Physical dependence or abuse. Liver problems. Call your healthcare provider right away if you notice any of these symptoms: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice) loss of appetite dark or “tea‐colored” urine pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area light colored stools (bowel movements) nausea Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check your liver before you start taking and while you take buprenorphine sublingual tablets.

Allergic reaction. You may have a rash, hives, swelling of your face, wheezing, low blood pressure, or loss of consciousness. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away. Opioid withdrawal. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of these symptoms: shaking sweating more than normal feeling hot or cold more than normal runny nose watery eyes goose bumps diarrhea vomiting muscle aches Decrease in blood pressure.

You may feel dizzy if you get up too fast from sitting or lying down. The most common side effects of buprenorphine sublingual tablets include: headache nausea vomiting constipation pain increased sweating decrease in sleep (insomnia) Buprenorphine sublingual tablet may affect fertility in males and females. Talk to your healthcare provider if this is a concern for you.

These are not all the possible side effects of buprenorphine sublingual tablets. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Who should not take it

Do not take buprenorphine sublingual tablet with certain medicines. Taking buprenorphine sublingual tablet with other opioid medicines, benzodiazepines, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants (including street drugs) can cause severe drowsiness, decreased awareness, breathing problems, coma, and death. Do not inject (“shoot‐up”) buprenorphine sublingual tablet.

Injecting buprenorphine sublingual tablet may cause life‐threatening infections and other serious health problems Do not switch from buprenorphine sublingual tablet to other medicines that contain buprenorphine without talking with your healthcare provider. The amount of buprenorphine in a dose of buprenorphine sublingual tablet is not the same as in other medicines that contain buprenorphine.

Your healthcare provider will prescribe a starting dose of buprenorphine sublingual tablet that may be different than other buprenorphine containing medicines you may have been taking. Do not stop taking buprenorphine sublingual tablets suddenly. You could become sick and have withdrawal symptoms because your body has become used to the medicine (physical dependence).

Physical dependence is not the same as drug addiction. In an emergency, have family members tell emergency department staff that you are physically dependent on an opioid and are being treated with buprenorphine sublingual tablet. Never give anyone else your buprenorphine sublingual tablet. They could die from taking it.

Selling or giving away buprenorphine sublingual tablets is against the law. Store buprenorphine sublingual tablet securely, out of sight and reach of children, and in a location not accessible by others, including visitors to the home. What is buprenorphine sublingual tablet? Buprenorphine sublingual tablet is a prescription medicine used to treat opioid addiction in adults and is part of a complete treatment program that also includes counseling and behavioral therapy.

Who should not take buprenorphine sublingual tablet? Do not take buprenorphine sublingual tablet if you are allergic to buprenorphine. Before taking buprenorphine sublingual tablets, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you have: trouble breathing or lung problems an enlarged prostate (men) head injury or brain problem a curve in your spine that affects your breathing liver, kidney, or gallbladder problems mental health problems Addison’s disease alcoholism adrenal gland or thyroid gland problems tooth problems, including a history of cavities Tell your healthcare provider if you are: pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

If you take buprenorphine sublingual tablets while pregnant, your baby may have symptoms of opioid withdrawal at birth that could be life‐threatening if not recognized and treated. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Buprenorphine can pass into your breast milk and harm your baby.

Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take buprenorphine sublingual tablets. Monitor your baby for increased drowsiness and breathing problems if you breastfeed during treatment with buprenorphine sublingual tablets. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements.

What to avoid

Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or perform any other dangerous activities until you know how buprenorphine affects you. Buprenorphine can cause drowsiness and slow reaction times. Buprenorphine can make you sleepy, dizzy, or lightheaded. You should not drink alcohol or take prescription or over‐the‐counter medicines that contain alcohol while taking buprenorphine sublingual tablet, because this can lead to loss of consciousness or even death.