The National Alliance of Advocates
for Buprenorphine Treatment
Buprenorphine (Suboxone®, Subutex®3, Zubsolv®4, Bunavail™5, Probuphine®6) is an opioid medication used to treat opioid addiction in the privacy of a physician's office.1 Buprenorphine can be dispensed for take-home use, by prescription.1 This, in addition to the pharmacological and safety profile of buprenorphine, makes it an attractive treatment for patients addicted to opioids.2
Who can prescribe Buprenorphine?
Any physician with a special "X" number issued by the DEA. The way the law is written, any doctor can prescribe Suboxone for treating pain, however the FDA has not granted approval for Suboxone to be used for pain, so it would be an off-label prescription. However there exists other restrictions for those who want to prescribe it for opioid addiction treatment (what the FDA approved it for). Doctors must take an 8-hour class on addiction treatment, or already possess such credentials, and then apply for a special DEA#. Once they obtain their # they are limited to treating only 30 patients at a time. (see our 30 patient limit page)
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The Purpose of Buprenorphine Treatment:
To suppress the debilitating symptoms of cravings and withdrawal, enabling the patient to engage in therapy, counseling and support, so they can implement positive long-term changes in their lives which develops into the new healthy patterns of behavior necessary to achieve sustained addiction remission. - explain -
The National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment is a non-profit organization charged with the mission to:
- Educate the public about the disease of opioid addiction and the buprenorphine treatment option.
- Help reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with patients with addiction disorders.
- Serve as a conduit connecting patients in need of treatment to buprenorphine treatment providers.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Talk Paper, T0238, October 8, 2002, Subutex and Suboxone approved to treat opiate dependence.
- Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Buprenorphine in the Treatment of Opioid Addiction. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 40. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 04-3939. Rockville, Md: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2004.
- Subutex Discontinued in the US market in late 2011.
- Zubsolv (bup/nx sublingual tablet) FDA approved 7/3/2013 see buprenorphine pipeline graphic -in pharmacies now.
- Bunavail (bup/nx bucal film) FDA approved 6/6/2014 see buprenorphine pipeline graphic -in pharmacies now.
- Probuphine FDA approved 5/26/2016 - FDA Probuphine press release