Buprenex (buprenorphine) is a prescription opioid drug that’s used to help manage pain. The drug comes in an intramuscular or intravenous (IV) injection. In severe cases, it can be given as needed every 6 hours.

Buprenex has been discontinued. This drug’s removal from the market was a business decision by the manufacturer and not due to concerns regarding the drug’s safety or effectiveness.

Your doctor will no longer prescribe Buprenex injections for pain. But Buprenex is still available in a generic version called buprenorphine. A generic contains an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. A generic is considered just as safe and effective as the original drug but tends to cost less. The information on Buprenex in this article also applies to generic buprenorphine injections unless otherwise stated.

For details about alternatives to buprenorphine injections for severe pain, talk with your doctor.

Buprenex is prescribed for adults and certain children ages 2 years and older to treat severe pain. Doctors typically only prescribe Buprenex when less powerful pain relievers aren’t effective for your condition.

The active ingredient in Buprenex is buprenorphine, which is a type of opioid.

Buprenex belongs to a group of drugs called partial opioid agonists.

This article describes the dosages of Buprenex, as well as its strength and how it’s given. To learn more about Buprenex, see this in-depth article.

This section describes the usual dosages of Buprenex. Keep reading to learn more.

What is Buprenex’s form?

Buprenex is a liquid solution in a vial. It’s given as an injection into your muscle or into your vein.

What strength does Buprenex come in?

Buprenex is available in one strength of 0.3 milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL).

What are the typical dosages of Buprenex for adults?

Buprenex injections are given as needed to manage severe pain. Your doctor will likely start with a one-time dose of Buprenex to see how well it works for you. They’ll give additional doses as necessary to relieve your pain. Ultimately, your doctor will give the fewest possible doses of Buprenex to get the desired effect.

Buprenex injection for pain

Buprenex can be given as an injection into your muscle or into your vein. Your doctor will decide which type of injection is best for relieving your pain. Regardless of the type of injection you receive, the dosage for Buprenex is the same.

Your doctor will likely start by giving you a single dose of 0.3 mg of Buprenex (1 mL of solution). If a single dose isn’t effective for your pain, you may be given a second 0.3-mg dose 30 to 60 minutes later.

If your pain persists, your doctor may give you 0.3 mg of Buprenex every 6 hours.

For severe pain, the maximum dose of Buprenex is 0.6 mg every 6 hours.

It’s important to note that dosages discussed in this section are for adults and children ages 12 years and older. To learn more about the Buprenex dosage for children younger than 12, see “What’s the dosage of Buprenex for children?” below.

Is Buprenex used long term?

No, Buprenex isn’t meant to be used as a long-term treatment.

Buprenex is a short-term treatment for pain that’s given in a hospital or clinic. Your doctor will give you Buprenex for the shortest amount of time needed to treat your pain.

If you need long-term pain relief, your doctor will likely prescribe a different treatment for you.

What’s the dosage of Buprenex for children?

Buprenex is prescribed to treat pain in children ages 2 years and older. The following dosages may be given to children ages 2 to 11 years. If your child is 12 years or older, they’ll receive the same dosage as adults. For more information, see “What are the typical dosages of Buprenex for adults?” above.

The typical starting dose of Buprenex for children is 2 to 6 micrograms per kilogram (mcg/kg) of body weight. One kg equals about 2.2 pounds (lb). So for a child who weighs 16 kg (about 36 lb), the maximum Buprenex dose for each injection would be 96 mcg.

If the child’s pain isn’t relieved with a single dose, their doctor may give additional doses of Buprenex every 4 to 6 hours. However, some children may need to wait at least 6 to 8 hours between each dose. Their doctor will determine the dosing frequency that’s safest for them.

Dosage adjustments

In certain situations, your doctor may need to adjust your dosage of Buprenex.

For example, your doctor may adjust your Buprenex dosage based on other drugs you take. Examples of these drugs include benzodiazepines or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, such as alcohol.

Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs prescribed for anxiety or seizures. Examples include:

Buprenex has a boxed warning for the risk of use with benzodiazepines and CNS depressants. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. Taking Buprenex with these drugs can lead to serious side effects, such as:

Before starting Buprenex, tell your doctor if you take any benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants. They’ll likely give you a lower dosage of Buprenex, or they may prescribe you a different treatment for your pain.

Is Buprenex approved to take orally (by mouth)? If so, what’s the dosage?

No, Buprenex is not taken by mouth.

However, buprenorphine (the active ingredient in Buprenex) is available in oral forms.

If you’re interested in taking an oral form of buprenorphine instead of Buprenex, talk with your doctor. They can discuss whether another drug is appropriate for treating your pain.

Where can I find instructions for giving myself Buprenex injections?

You won’t find instructions for how to give yourself injections of Buprenex. The drug is only given by a healthcare professional in a hospital or clinic. You won’t give yourself Buprenex injections at home.

If you have questions about how you’ll receive Buprenex treatments, talk with your doctor.

The dosage of Buprenex you’re prescribed may depend on several factors. These include:

  • the severity of the pain you’re using Buprenex to treat
  • your age
  • other pain treatments you’ve used in the past
  • for your child, their body weight
  • other drugs you may be taking (see “Dosage adjustments” under “What is Buprenex’s dosage?”)

Buprenex is given as an injection into your muscle or into your vein. Your doctor will decide which type of injection is best for relieving your pain.

You’ll receive Buprenex injections in a hospital or clinic. You won’t give yourself injections of Buprenex.

Buprenex is a short-term treatment given as needed to manage pain. Because of this, you may not receive regularly scheduled doses of Buprenex.

If you have questions about how often you should receive your Buprenex doses, talk with your doctor.

Yes, Buprenex is a Schedule III controlled substance with a boxed warning for the risk of addiction and misuse. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Boxed warnings” section at the beginning of the article.

Using more Buprenex than the dosage provided by the drug’s manufacturer can lead to serious side effects.

Symptoms of overdose

Symptoms caused by an overdose can include:

What to do in case you think you’ve received too much Buprenex

In the hospital or clinic where you receive Buprenex, you’ll be continuously monitored for potential overdose. Let your doctor know right away if you think you’ve been given too much Buprenex.

If you’re not in a hospital or clinic, you can call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. However, if you have severe symptoms, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.

Taking Buprenex can lead to physical dependence. This condition occurs when your body relies on a drug in order to feel like usual.

If you suddenly stop taking Buprenex after you’ve been given the drug regularly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. Examples of these symptoms include:

Before you stop your Buprenex treatment, your doctor may lower your doses slowly over time. This can help lower your risk of withdrawal symptoms after the drug is stopped.

If you have withdrawal symptoms after you’ve stopped receiving Buprenex injections, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to manage these symptoms.

Buprenex is used to treat severe pain that hasn’t been relieved by other treatments.

The sections above describe the typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Buprenex for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.

Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor:

  • Should my dosage of Buprenex change if I have certain health conditions?
  • Does my dosage of Buprenex need to change if I’m taking other drugs along with it?
  • If Buprenex can be given as an injection into a muscle or into a vein, why might my doctor prescribe one method of injection over the other?

Q:

Will receiving a higher dosage of Buprenex raise my risk of withdrawal symptoms when the drug is stopped?

Anonymous

A:

The risk of developing withdrawal symptoms depends on both the dosage and how long you use Buprenex. Receiving a higher dosage and using the medication for a long period of time will raise your risk of withdrawal symptoms. However, your doctor may taper (slowly reduce) your dosage to help reduce this risk.

If you have withdrawal symptoms after you’ve stopped receiving Buprenex injections, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to lessen these symptoms.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.