• What is the most important information I should know about buprenorphine?
  • Buprenorphine hydrochloride sublingual tablets can cause serious and life-threatening breathing problems. Call your doctor right away or get emergency help if:
    • You feel faint, dizzy or confused
    • Your breathing gets much slower than is normal for you
  • These can be signs of an overdose or other serious problems.
  • Do not switch from buprenorphine hydrochloride sublingual tablets to other medicines that contain buprenorphine without talking with your doctor. The amount of buprenorphine in a dose of buprenorphine hydrochloride sublingual tablets may not be the same as the amount of buprenorphine in other medicines that contain buprenorphine. Your doctor will prescribe a starting dose of buprenorphine hydrochloride sublingual tablets that may be different than other buprenorphine containing medicines you may have been taking.
  • Buprenorphine hydrochloride sublingual tablets contain an opioid that can cause physical dependence.
    • Do not stop taking buprenorphine hydrochloride sublingual tablets without talking to your doctor. You could become sick with uncomfortable withdrawal signs and symptoms because your body has become used to this medicine
    • Physical dependence is not the same as drug addiction
    • Buprenorphine hydrochloride sublingual tablets are not for occasional or “as needed” use
  • An overdose, and even death, can happen if you take benzodiazepines, sedatives, tranquilizers, antidepressants, or alcohol while using buprenorphine hydrochloride sublingual tablets. Ask your doctor what you should do if you are taking one of these.
  • Call a doctor or get emergency help right away if you:
    • Feel sleepy and uncoordinated
    • Have blurred vision
    • Have slurred speech
    • Cannot think well or clearly
    • Have slowed reflexes and breathing
  • Do not inject (“shoot-up”) buprenorphine hydrochloride sublingual tablets.
    • Injecting buprenorphine hydrochloride sublingual tablets may cause life-threatening infections and other serious health problems.
    • Injecting buprenorphine hydrochloride sublingual tablets may cause serious withdrawal symptoms such as pain, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, sleep problems, and cravings.
  • In an emergency, have family members tell the emergency department staff that you are physically dependent on an opioid and are being treated with buprenorphine hydrochloride sublingual tablets.
• What is buprenorphine?
• Who should not take buprenorphine?
• What should I tell my doctor before taking buprenorphine?
• How should I take buprenorphine?
• What should I avoid while taking buprenorphine?
• What are the possible side effects of buprenorphine?
• How should I store buprenorphine?
• How should I dispose of unused buprenorphine?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Buprenorphine. The drug should not be used for a condition other than that for which it is prescribed. Do not give it to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What is the most important information I should know about methadone?
  • Get emergency help right away if you take too much methadone hydrochloride (overdose). When you first start taking methadone hydrochloride, when your dose is changed, or if you take too much (overdose), serious or life-threatening breathing problems that can lead to death may occur.
  • Never give anyone your methadone hydrochloride. They could die from taking it. Store methadone hydrochloride away from children and in a safe place to prevent stealing or abuse. Selling or giving away methadone hydrochloride is against the law.
• What is methadone?
• Who should not take methadone?
• What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking methadone?
• How should I take methadone?
• What should I avoid while taking methadone?
• What are the possible side effects of methadone?
• How should methadone tablets be stored?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Methadone. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What is the most important information I should know about naltrexone?

  Patients should tell family and the people they are closest to about the increased sensitivity to opioids and the risk of overdose. Accidental overdose can happen in two ways:

  • Naltrexone blocks the effects of opioids, such as heroin or opioid pain medicines. Patients who try to overcome this blocking effect by taking large amounts of opioids may experience serious injury, coma, or death.
  • After receiving a dose of naltrexone, the blocking effect slowly decreases and completely goes away over time. Patients who are taking naltrexone for an opioid use disorde can become more sensitive to the effects of opioids at the dose used before, or even lower amounts. Using opioids while on naltrexone can lead to overdose and death.
• What is naltrexone?
• Who should not take naltrexone?
• What should I tell my healthcare provider before starting treatment with naltrexone?
• What are possible side effects of naltrexone?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Naltrexone. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What is the most important information I should know about Vivitrol?

  Vivitrol can cause serious side effects, including:

  1. Risk of opioid overdose. You can accidentally overdose in two ways.

  • Vivitrol blocks the effects of opioids, such as heroin or opioid pain medicines. Do not take large amounts of opioids, including opioid-containing medicines, such as heroin or prescription pain pills, to try to overcome the opioid-blocking effects of Vivitrol. This can lead to serious injury, coma, or death.
  • After you receive a dose of Vivitrol, its blocking effect slowly decreases and completely goes away over time. If you have used opioid street drugs or opioid-containing medicines in the past, using opioids in amounts that you used before treatment with Vivitrol can lead to overdose and death. You may also be more sensitive to the effects of lower amounts of opioids:
    • after you have gone through detoxification
    • when your next Vivitrol dose is due
    • if you miss a dose of Vivitrol
    • after you stop Vivitrol treatment

  It is important that you tell your family and the people closest to you of this increased sensitivity to opioids and the risk of overdose.

  You or someone close to you should get emergency medical help right away if you:

  • have trouble breathing
  • become very drowsy with slowed breathing
  • have slow, shallow breathing (little chest movement with breathing)
  • feel faint, very dizzy, confused, or have unusual symptoms

  2. Severe reactions at the site of the injection (injection site reactions). Some people on Vivitrol have had severe injection site reactions, including tissue death (necrosis). Some of these injection site reactions have required surgery. Call your healthcare provider right away if you notice any of the following at any of your injection sites:

  • Intense pain
  • The area feels hard
  • Large area of swelling
  • Lumps
  • Blisters
  • An open wound
  • A dark scab

  Tell your healthcare provider about any reaction at an injection site that concerns you, gets worse over time, or does not get better by two weeks after the injection.

  3. Sudden opioid withdrawal. Anyone who receives a Vivitrol injection must not use any type of opioid (must be opioid-free) including street drugs, prescription pain medicines, cough, cold, or diarrhea medicines that contain opioids, or opioid dependence treatments, buprenorphine or methadone, for at least 7 to 14 days before starting Vivitrol. Using opioids in the 7 to 14 days before you start receiving Vivitrol may cause you to suddenly have symptoms of opioid withdrawal when you get the Vivitrol injection. Sudden opioid withdrawal can be severe and you may need to go to the hospital.

  You must be opioid-free before receiving Vivitrol unless your healthcare provider decides that you don't need to go through detox first. Instead, your doctor may decide to give your Vivitrol injection in a medical facility that can treat you for sudden opioid withdrawal.

  4. Liver damage or hepatitis. Naltrexone, the active ingredient in Vivitrol, can cause liver damage or hepatitis. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms of liver problems during treatment with Vivitrol:

  • Stomach area pain lasting more than a few days
  • Dark urine
  • Yellowing of the whites of your eyes
  • Tiredness

  Your healthcare provider may need to stop treating you with Vivitrol if you get signs or symptoms of a serious liver problem.

• What is Vivitrol?
• Who should not receive Vivitrol?
• What should I tell my healthcare provider before receiving Vivitrol?
• How will I receive Vivitrol?
• What should I avoid while receiving Vivitrol?
• What are the possible side effects of Vivitrol?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Naltrexone Injection. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What is the most important information I should know about buprenorphine and naloxone?
  • Buprenorphine and naloxone can cause serious and life-threatening breathing problems. Call your doctor right away or get emergency help if:
    • You feel faint, dizzy, or confused
    • Your breathing gets much slower than is normal for you

  These can be signs of an overdose or other serious problems.

  • Buprenorphine and naloxone contain an opioid that can cause physical dependence.
    • Do not stop taking buprenorphine and naloxone without talking to your doctor. You could become sick with uncomfortable withdrawal signs and symptoms because your body has become used to this medicine
    • Physical dependence is not the same as drug addiction
    • Buprenorphine and naloxone are not for occasional or “as needed” use
    • Feel sleepy and uncoordinated
    • Have blurred vision
    • Have slurred speech
    • Cannot think well or clearly
    • Have slowed reflexes and breathing
    • Injecting buprenorphine and naloxone may cause life-threatening infections and other serious health problems.
    • Injecting buprenorphine and naloxone may cause serious withdrawal symptoms such as pain, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, sleep problems, and cravings.
  • Do not switch from buprenorphine and naloxone to other medicines that contain buprenorphine without talking with your doctor. The amount of buprenorphine in a dose of buprenorphine and naloxone may not be the same as the amount of buprenorphine in other medicines that contain buprenorphine. Your doctor will prescribe a starting dose of buprenorphine and naloxone that may be different than other buprenorphine-containing medicines you may have been taking.
  • An overdose, and even death, can happen if you take benzodiazepines, sedatives, tranquilizers, antidepressants, or alcohol while using buprenorphine and naloxone. Ask your doctor what you should do if you are taking one of these.
  • Call a doctor or get emergency help right away if you:
  • Do not inject (“shoot-up”) buprenorphine and naloxone.
  • In an emergency, have family members tell the emergency department staff that you are physically dependent on an opioid and are being treated with buprenorphine and naloxone.
• What are buprenorphine and naloxone?
• Who should not take buprenorphine and naloxone?
• What should I tell my doctor before taking buprenorphine and naloxone?
• How should I take buprenorphine and naloxone?
• What should I avoid while taking buprenorphine and naloxone?
• What are the possible side effects of buprenorphine and naloxone?
• How should I store buprenorphine and naloxone?
• How should I dispose of unused buprenorphine and naloxone?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Buprenorphine and Naloxone. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What is the most important information I should know about Sublocade?
  • Because of the serious risk of potential harm or death from self-injecting Sublocade into a vein (intravenously), it is only available through a restricted program called the Sublocade REMS Program.
    • Sublocade is not available in retail pharmacies.
    • Your Sublocade injection will only be given to you by a certified healthcare provider.
  • In an emergency, you or your family should tell the emergency medical staff that you are physically dependent on an opioid and are being treated with Sublocade.
  • Buprenorphine, the medicine in Sublocade, can cause serious and life-threatening problems, especially if you take or use certain other medicines or drugs. Call your healthcare provider right away or get emergency help if you:
    • feel faint or dizzy
    • have mental changes such as confusion
    • have slower breathing than you normally have
    • have severe sleepiness
    • have blurred vision
    • have problems with coordination
    • have slurred speech
    • cannot think well or clearly
    • have a high body temperature
    • have slowed reflexes
    • feel agitated
    • have stiff muscles
    • have trouble walking

  These can be signs of an overdose or other serious problems.

  • Death or serious harm can happen if you take anxiety medicines or benzodiazepines, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, or sedatives, antidepressants, or antihistamines, or drink alcohol during treatment with Sublocade. Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any of these medicines and if you drink alcohol.
• What is Sublocade?
• Who should not use Sublocade?
• What should I tell my healthcare provider before using Sublocade?
• How will I receive Sublocade?
• What should I avoid while being treated with Sublocade?
• What are the possible side effects of Sublocade?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Buprenorphine Extended-release Injection. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What is the most important information I should know about buprenorphine transdermal patch?
  • Get emergency help right away if you take too much buprenorphine transdermal patch (overdose). When you first start taking buprenorphine transdermal patch, when your dose is changed, or if you take too much (overdose), serious or life-threatening breathing problems that can lead to death may occur.
  • Taking buprenorphine transdermal patch with other opioid medicines, benzodiazepines, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants (including street drugs) can cause severe drowsiness, decreased awareness, breathing problems, coma, and death.
  • Never give anyone else your buprenorphine transdermal patch. They could die from taking it. Store buprenorphine transdermal patch away from children and in a safe place to prevent stealing or abuse. Selling or giving away buprenorphine transdermal patch is against the law.
• What is buprenorphine transdermal patch?
• Who should not use buprenorphine transdermal patch?
• What should I tell my healthcare provider before applying buprenorphine transdermal patch?
• How should I apply buprenorphine transdermal patch?
• What should I avoid when applying buprenorphine transdermal patch?
• What are the possible side effects of buprenorphine transdermal patch?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Buprenorphine Transdermal Patch. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What is the most important information I should know about naltrexone implants?
  • Do not use narcotic drugs or alcohol while you are being treated with naltrexone implants. Never try to overcome the effects of the medication by using large doses of narcotic drugs or alcohol. Doing so could result in dangerous effects, including coma and death. Ask your doctor before using any prescription or over-the-counter medicine to treat a cold, cough, diarrhea, or pain during your treatment with naltrexone injection. These medicines may contain narcotics or alcohol.
  • Use of Naltrexone Implants does not eliminate or diminish substance abuse withdrawal symptoms.
  • Naltrexone implants may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
  • You may notice pain, redness, bruising, swelling, or a hard lump where the medication was implanted. Call your doctor if you have this type of reaction to the implant, especially if it does not clear up or gets worse within 2 weeks.
  • Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card stating that you use naltrexone implants. Any medical care provider who treats you should know that you are receiving this medication.
  • Alert your healthcare professional right away if you develop serious bouts of depression or suicidal thinking.
  • Families and caregivers of patients being treated with Naltrexone Implants should be alerted to the need to monitor patients for the emergence of symptoms of depression or suicidality, and to report such symptoms to the patient’s healthcare professional.
  • Additional forms of counseling and/or monitoring may be recommended during treatment with naltrexone implants.
  • You may be more sensitive to lower doses of opioids after Naltrexone Implant treatment is discontinued. Reduced tolerance is especially of concern at the end of a dosing interval, that is, near the end of the dosing cycle after the Naltrexone Implant was administered, or after a dose of Naltrexone Implant is missed. It is also important that you inform family members and the people closest to you of this increased sensitivity to opioids and the risk of overdose.
• What is naltrexone implant?
• What are the possible side effects of naltrexone implant?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving naltrexone implants?
• How is the naltrexone implant used?
• What happens if I miss a dose?
• What happens if I overdose?
• What should I avoid while using naltrexone implants?
• What other drugs will affect naltrexone implants?
• Where can I get more information?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Naltrexone Implant. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.