Daily Medication Pearl: Buprenorphine (Butrans)

Author(s):

Saro Arakelians, PharmD

Buprenorphine (Butrans) is a partial opioid agonist indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment for which alternative treatment options are inadequate.

Medication Pearl of the Day: Buprenorphine (Butrans)

Indication: Buprenorphine (Butrans) is a partial opioid agonist indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment for which alternative treatment options are inadequate.

Insight:

Dosing: Doses of 7.5, 10, 15, and 20 mcg/hour are for opioid experienced patients only.
Dosage forms: Transdermal system 5 mcg/hour, 7.5 mcg/hour, 10 mcg/hour, 15 mcg/hour, and 20 mcg/hour.
Adverse events: Most common adverse reactions (≥ 5%) include nausea, headache, application site pruritus, dizziness, constipation, somnolence, vomiting, application site erythema, dry mouth, and application site rash.
Mechanism of action: Buprenorphine is a partial agonist at mu opioid receptors.

Source: BUTRANS label (fda.gov)