What is Buprenex: Uses, Warnings & Interactions

How to take Buprenex

• Injection routeA nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

• Injection routeYour doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot under your skin, into a muscle, or into a vein.

• Injection routeYou may be taught how to give your medicine at home. Make sure you understand all instructions before giving yourself an injection. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.

• Injection routeUse a new needle and syringe each time you inject your medicine.

• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.

• Missed dose: Injection routeCall your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

• Injection routeIf you store this medicine at home, keep it at room temperature, away from heat and direct light. Store the medicine in a safe and secure place. Drop off any unused narcotic medicine at a drug take-back location right away. If you do not have a drug take-back location near you, flush any unused narcotic medicine down the toilet. Check your local drug store and clinics for take-back locations. You can also check the DEA web site for locations. Here is the link to the FDA safe disposal of medicines website: www.fda.gov/drugs/resourcesforyou/consumers/buyingusingmedicinesafely/ensuringsafeuseofmedicine/safedisposalofmedicines/ucm186187.htm

• Injection routeAsk your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine, containers, and other supplies. Throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed.

• Injection routeThrow away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

• Missed dose: Injection routeCall your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

• Injection routeYou may be taught how to give your medicine at home. Make sure you understand all instructions before giving yourself an injection. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.

• Injection routeYour doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot under your skin, into a muscle, or into a vein.

• Injection routeUse a new needle and syringe each time you inject your medicine.

• Injection routeIf you store this medicine at home, keep it at room temperature, away from heat and direct light. Store the medicine in a safe and secure place. Drop off any unused narcotic medicine at a drug take-back location right away. If you do not have a drug take-back location near you, flush any unused narcotic medicine down the toilet. Check your local drug store and clinics for take-back locations. You can also check the DEA web site for locations. Here is the link to the FDA safe disposal of medicines website: www.fda.gov/drugs/resourcesforyou/consumers/buyingusingmedicinesafely/ensuringsafeuseofmedicine/safedisposalofmedicines/ucm186187.htm

• Injection routeAsk your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine, containers, and other supplies. Throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed.

• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.

• Injection routeThrow away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

• Injection routeA nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

What to do if you miss a dose of Buprenex

Buprenex contraindications

• This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to buprenorphine, or if you have severe breathing problems or stomach blockage (including paralytic ileus).

Buprenex warnings

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, heart rhythm problems, gallbladder problems, lung disease or breathing problems (such as COPD, sleep apnea), pancreas problems, an underactive thyroid, an adrenal problem, a spine deformity, problems with urination, an enlarged prostate, or a history of seizures, depression, or mental health problems. Tell your doctor if you have ever had a head injury, brain tumor, or stroke. Tell your doctor if you have ever been addicted to alcohol or drugs.

• This medicine may cause the following problems:High risk of overdose, which can lead to deathRespiratory depression (serious breathing problem that can be life-threatening)Sleep-related breathing problems (including sleep apnea, sleep-related hypoxemia)Liver problemsQT prolongation (heart rhythm problem)Serotonin syndrome (when used with certain medicines)

• This medicine can be habit-forming. Do not use more than your prescribed dose. Call your doctor if you think your medicine is not working.

• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

• Tell your doctor or anyone who treats you that you have been using Sublocade„¢ injection within the last 6 months.

• This medicine may cause constipation, especially with long-term use. Ask your doctor if you should use a laxative to prevent and treat constipation.

• Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.

• This medicine could cause infertility. Talk with your doctor before using this medicine if you plan to have children.

• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Buprenex interactions

• Do not use this medicine if you are using or have used an MAO inhibitor within the past 14 days.

• Many medicines can affect how buprenorphine works. Make sure your doctor knows about all other medicines you are using, especially the following: Carbamazepine, cyclobenzaprine, erythromycin, ketoconazole, metaxalone, mirtazapine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampin, tramadol, trazodone, or valproic acidDiuretic (water pill)Medicine to treat depression, anxiety, or mental health problemsMedicine to treat heart rhythm problemMedicine to treat HIV infection (including atazanavir, delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine, ritonavir)Phenothiazine medicineTriptan medicine for migraine headaches

• Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.

• Tell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol. Tell your doctor if you are using butorphanol, nalbuphine, pentazocine, a benzodiazepine, or a muscle relaxer.