BACKGROUND Sublingual buprenorphine-naloxone (buprenorphine SL) is a preparation that is used to treat opioid dependence. In addition, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has acknowledged the legality of an off-label use to treat pain with a sublingual buprenorphine preparation. Buprenorphine SL is unique among the opioid class of analgesics; this compound has a high affinity for the mu-r...

The disposition of buprenorphine has been studied in two patient groups to assess the influence of impaired renal function on the metabolism of buprenorphine and two of its metabolites, buprenorphine-3-glucuronide (B3G) and norbuprenorphine (NorB). A single i.v. dose of 0.3 mg was given to 15 patients (nine with dialysis-dependent renal failure) undergoing lower abdominal or peripheral body sur...

Due to its distinct pharmacological profile and lower incidence of adverse events compared with other opioids, buprenorphine is considered a safe option for pain and substitution therapy. However, despite its wide clinical use, little is known about the synaptic effects of buprenorphine in nociceptive pathways. Here, we demonstrate dose-dependent, bimodal effects of buprenorphine on transmissio...

We report on the utility of urine total buprenorphine, total norbuprenorphine, and creatinine concentrations in patients treated with Suboxone (a formulation containing buprenorphine and naloxone), used increasingly for the maintenance or detoxification of patients dependent on opiates such as heroin or oxycodone. Patients received 8-24 mg/day buprenorphine. Two-hundred sixteen urine samples fr...

Clinical efficacy of buprenorphine in controlling withdrawal symptoms was compared against clonidine among 44 opiate dependent males. Subjective and objective withdrawal symptoms were assessed by withdrawal rating scales daily for 10 days. The subjects were randomly assigned to fixed dose schedule of either buprenorphine (0.6-1.2 mg per day, sublingually) or clonidine (0.3-0.9 mg per day, oral)...

The objective of this cross-sectional evaluation study was to compare data generated through prescriber assessments, and data generated from independent direct contact with opiate-dependent patients in office-based practice to evaluate buprenorphine treatment for modality of buprenorphine absorption, benzodiazepine use, and depressive symptoms. A group of buprenorphine office-based practice pre...

The National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN), a collaborative federal research initiative that brings together universities and community-based treatment programs (CTPs), has conducted multiple clinical trials of buprenorphine for opioid dependence. Part of the CTN's mission is to promote the adoption of evidence-based treatment technologies. Drawing on a data collected durin...

Buprenorphine is a strong narcotic analgesic. It is also used in the substitution therapy for opium alkaloid addicts. The aim of this paper was to develop and validate a highly sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry method for simultaneous determination of buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine in human serum. The developed methodology was then ap...

BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of diversion and injection of methadone and buprenorphine among clients receiving opioid pharmacotherapy treatment at community pharmacies in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. METHODS A multi-site cross-sectional survey design was utilised using a self-complete questionnaire. Participants were 508 clients receiving supervised methadone...