Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder
Buprenorphine is one of many addiction treatment medications that can be used to help people recover from opioid use disorder.1 Addiction professionals may prescribe buprenorphine to help with opioid withdrawal or for ongoing opioid addiction treatment.1,2
Learn how buprenorphine is useful, its side effects, how it works, what to expect with buprenorphine treatment, and how to get started with opioid addiction treatment.
What Is Buprenorphine?
Buprenorphine is a medication that can be used to treat opioid use disorder.2 It is prescribed in multiple formulations by different brands:2
- Bunavail—a dissolving film that is tucked into the cheek.
- Suboxone—a sublingual film.
- Zubsolv—a sublingual tablet.
- Brixadi or Sublocade—extended-release injections of buprenorphine.3
- Generic buprenorphine or buprenorphine and naloxone combination—a dissolving sublingual tablet or film.
In addition to the above-mentioned prescriptions, buprenorphine may also be available as an implant inside the upper arm, lasting up to 6 months.2
All of the above formulations are FDA-approved to treat opioid use disorder; your healthcare provider will determine which formulation works best for you.
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, a type of opioid medication.2 It works by binding to the same receptors in the brain as other opioids, but it doesn’t activate them as fully.
This leads to a “ceiling effect,” meaning that increasing the dose beyond a certain point does not produce a proportional increase in the opioid’s effects, such as the intense euphoria or respiratory depression associated with full opioid agonists like heroin or misused prescription opioids.
This characteristic makes buprenorphine a safer option for treating opioid use disorder, helping people manage cravings and withdrawals during recovery.
What Is Buprenorphine Used For?
Buprenorphine can be prescribed as a part of treatment for people in recovery from opioid use disorder. Opioid use disorder (OUD) is the medical diagnosis for an opioid addiction, as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Edition) (DSM-5).4
An opioid addiction is a problematic pattern of opioid use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, including physical, social, and psychological issues.
Buprenorphine effectively manages opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings, supporting sustained abstinence.5
When taken as prescribed, buprenorphine alleviates withdrawal symptoms and reduces cravings without producing euphoria or enabling the effects of other opioids.5
Integrated within a comprehensive, individualized treatment plan, buprenorphine facilitates a stable foundation for recovery from opioid use disorder.
How Does Buprenorphine Work?
Buprenorphine minimizes symptoms of opioid use disorder by normalizing a person’s brain chemistry and decreasing the chance of relapse and overdose.1,2
Opioid use disorder is a chronic and relapsing brain disorder characterized by the compulsive use of opioids despite significant social, physical, or psychological harm.6
When a person decides to stop taking opioids, they may experience uncomfortable and distressing withdrawal symptoms, which can lead to relapse and increase the risk of overdose.6
Buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, alleviates these symptoms by partially activating opioid receptors, reducing cravings, blocking the effects of illicit opioids, and lowering the risk of overdose.2
How Long Does Buprenorphine Treatment Last?
Buprenorphine is used to treat opioid use disorder, a chronic condition. The length of buprenorphine therapy varies, depending on an individual’s need and their treatment progress.
While treatment duration is individualized, buprenorphine can safely be taken long-term as long as there is medical benefit.2 Stopping treatment too early can significantly increase the risk of relapse and overdose.2
Side Effects of Buprenorphine
Like all medications, buprenorphine may cause side effects, though they are often manageable. Common side effects can include gastrointestinal distress, mouth irritation, headache, drowsiness, and difficulty with attention and sleeping issues.2,7
While the list of potential side effects may seem extensive, most are mild and temporary. The benefits of buprenorphine in treating opioid use disorder are substantial. Questions related to medication side effects should always be directed to your physician and/or pharmacist.
Benefits of Buprenorphine Treatment
Medications, including buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, can be a highly effective component of a comprehensive recovery strategy for many people. Some benefits of buprenorphine treatment include:5
- A ceiling effect that limits overdose potential.
- Reduced withdrawal symptom severity.
- Diminished opioid cravings.
- Formulations that include misuse deterrence and long-acting options that simplify daily administration and enhance treatment effectiveness.
Buprenorphine provides a stable foundation facilitating active participation in addiction treatment and sustained aftercare, crucial for long-term recovery.
Does Health Insurance Cover Buprenorphine?
Under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), health insurance plans in the United States are generally required to provide coverage for substance use disorder treatment, including medications like buprenorphine.8
However, the specific level of coverage varies depending on individual insurance plans. To understand your coverage for buprenorphine and other opioid use disorder treatments, contact your insurance provider or speak with an admissions navigator who can help clarify your benefits and potential costs.
Opioid Addiction Rehab in Las Vegas
Desert Hope Treatment Center offers comprehensive, evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder. Our types of rehab care include medically supervised detoxification, inpatient and outpatient rehab programs in Las Vegas, and robust aftercare planning.
Medical detoxification at Desert Hope focuses on minimizing withdrawal symptoms and ensuring a safe transition into individualized addiction treatment plans.
Our outpatient and inpatient rehab in Las Vegas is tailored to meet individual needs. Aftercare services provide ongoing support to enhance long-term recovery.
Call our admissions navigators at to find out more about the treatment admissions process, the levels of addiction treatment offered, insurance coverage, and paying for rehab. We look forward to hearing from you.