BUPRENORPHINE/NALOXONE FILM - BUCCAL

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BUPRENORPHINE/NALOXONE FILM - BUCCAL

PHONETIC PRONUNCIATION: (BUE-pre-NOR-feen/nal-OX-one)

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Bunavail

GENERIC NAME(S): buprenorphine HCl/naloxone HCl

Uses

USES: This medication contains 2 medicines: buprenorphine and naloxone. It is used to treat opioid (narcotic) dependence/addiction. Buprenorphine belongs to a class of drugs called mixed opioid agonist-antagonists. Buprenorphine helps prevent withdrawal symptoms caused by stopping other opioids. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that blocks the effect of opioids and can cause severe opioid withdrawal when injected. Withdrawal is less likely when naloxone is taken by mouth. It is combined with buprenorphine to prevent abuse and misuse (injection) of this medication. This combination medication is used as part of a complete treatment program for drug abuse (such as compliance monitoring, counseling, behavioral contract, lifestyle changes).


How to use BUPRENORPHINE/NALOXONE FILM - BUCCAL

HOW TO USE: Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start using this medication and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Use this medication as directed by your doctor, usually once daily. Before using, rinse your mouth with water or use your tongue to wet the inside of your cheek. Use the tip of a dry finger to place one film inside your mouth with the text side facing against one cheek. Press and hold the film in place for 5 seconds, then remove your finger. The film should stay in place on its own after this. Leave it in place until it is dissolved. Do not move the strip with your tongue/finger or drink or eat food until the film has completely dissolved. If your doctor directs you to use more than one film at the same time, do not place one on top of the other. Place one film on each side of your mouth. Do not cut, tear, chew, or swallow the film. Doing so will make this medication work less well. Do not inject ("shoot up") buprenorphine/naloxone. Injecting it is dangerous, and will likely cause severe withdrawal symptoms due to the naloxone in this medication, especially if you have been using opioids such as heroin, morphine, or methadone. Buprenorphine alone may be used instead of this medication for the first 2 days after you have stopped all other opioids. It is usually given in your doctor's office. Your doctor will then switch you to this combination buprenorphine/naloxone medication for maintenance treatment. Do not change forms of this medication without your doctor's instructions. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Your doctor will adjust the dose until there are no symptoms of withdrawal. Do not switch between sublingual tablets/film or buccal film, because you may need a different dose if you switch. Do not increase your dose or use this drug more often or for longer than prescribed. Properly stop the medication when directed. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time each day. This medication may cause withdrawal reactions, especially if it has been used regularly for a long time or in high doses. In such cases, withdrawal symptoms (such as diarrhea, restlessness, watering eyes, runny nose, nausea, sweating, muscle aches) may occur if you suddenly stop using this medication. To prevent withdrawal reactions, your doctor may reduce your dose gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details, and report any withdrawal reactions right away. Keep this medicine in a safe place to prevent theft, misuse, or abuse. If a child accidentally swallows this drug, get medical help right away.

Side Effects

SIDE EFFECTS: Nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, or headache may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. To prevent constipation, eat a diet adequate in fiber, drink plenty of water, and exercise. Consult your pharmacist for help in selecting a laxative (such as a stimulant type with stool softener). To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Although this medication is used to prevent withdrawal reactions, it may rarely cause opioid withdrawal symptoms (see also How to Use section). This is more likely to happen when you first start treatment or if you have been using long-acting opioids such as methadone. If such symptoms occur, tell your doctor or pharmacist right away. Severe (possibly fatal) breathing problems can occur, especially if this medication is abused, injected, or mixed with other depressants (such as alcohol, benzodiazepines including diazepam, other opioids). Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: signs of your adrenal glands not working well (such as unusual tiredness, weight loss). Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: fainting, fast/irregular heartbeat, severe dizziness, mental/mood changes (such as agitation, confusion, hallucinations), slow/shallow breathing, unusual drowsiness/difficulty waking up. This drug may rarely cause serious (possibly fatal) liver disease. Get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of liver damage, including: persistent nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Precautions

PRECAUTIONS: Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to buprenorphine or naloxone; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: brain disorders (such as head injury, tumor, seizures), breathing problems (such as asthma, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD), liver disease, mental/mood disorders (such as confusion, depression, thoughts of suicide), stomach/intestinal problems (such as blockage, constipation, diarrhea due to infection, paralytic ileus), difficulty urinating (such as due to enlarged prostate). This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Alcohol or marijuana can make you more dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana. Alcohol increases your risk for serious, possibly fatal, breathing problems. Buprenorphine may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can rarely cause serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, fainting) that need medical attention right away. The risk of QT prolongation may be increased if you have certain medical conditions or are taking other drugs that may cause QT prolongation. Before using buprenorphine, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take and if you have any of the following conditions: certain heart problems (heart failure, slow heartbeat, QT prolongation in the EKG), family history of certain heart problems (QT prolongation in the EKG, sudden cardiac death). Low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood may also increase your risk of QT prolongation. This risk may increase if you use certain drugs (such as diuretics/"water pills") or if you have conditions such as severe sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting. Talk to your doctor about using buprenorphine safely. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially drowsiness, slow/shallow breathing, and QT prolongation (see above). Before using this medication, women of childbearing age should talk with their doctor(s) about the risks and benefits. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. It may slightly increase the risk of birth defects if used during the first two months of pregnancy. Also, using it for a long time or in high doses near the expected delivery date may harm the unborn baby. To lessen the risk, use the smallest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Tell the doctor right away if you notice any symptoms in your newborn baby such as slow/shallow breathing, irritability, abnormal/persistent crying, vomiting, or diarrhea. Buprenorphine passes into breast milk. It is unknown if naloxone passes into breast milk. This product may rarely have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Tell the doctor right away if your baby develops unusual sleepiness, difficulty feeding, or trouble breathing. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Interactions

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval. Some products that may interact with this medication include: naltrexone, certain pain medications (mixed opioid agonist-antagonists such as butorphanol, nalbuphine, pentazocine). Many drugs besides buprenorphine may affect the heart rhythm (QT prolongation), including amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, ibutilide, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol, among others. The risk of serious side effects (such as slow/shallow breathing, severe drowsiness/dizziness) may be increased if this medication is used with other products that may also affect breathing or cause drowsiness. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other products such as alcohol, marijuana, antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine), drugs for sleep or anxiety (such as alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants (such as carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine), and other narcotic pain relievers (such as codeine, hydrocodone). Check the labels on all your medicines (such as allergy or cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely. Some people have died when they misused this medication by injecting it ("shooting up"), especially if they used it in combination with benzodiazepines (such as diazepam) or other depressants such as alcohol or additional opioids.

Overdose

OVERDOSE: If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: slow breathing, slow heartbeat, loss of consciousness.

Images

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Faq for BUPRENORPHINE/NALOXONE FILM - BUCCAL

Buprenorphine/Naloxone Film - Buccal is used to treat opioid dependence and addiction.

Buprenorphine/Naloxone Film - Buccal works by binding to the same opioid receptors in the brain that are targeted by opioids, thus reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

You should place the film in your mouth against your cheek and let it dissolve completely. Do not chew or swallow the film.

The dosage of Buprenorphine/Naloxone Film - Buccal depends on individual needs and should be determined by a healthcare professional. Do not change the dosage without consulting your doctor.

Common side effects may include nausea, headache, constipation, and sweating. Inform your doctor if you experience any severe side effects such as difficulty breathing, severe drowsiness, or allergic reactions.

It is generally advised to avoid alcohol while using Buprenorphine/Naloxone Film - Buccal, as it can increase the risk of side effects and reduce the effectiveness of the medication.

Buprenorphine/Naloxone Film - Buccal may cause drowsiness and impair your ability to drive or operate machinery. It is important to assess your individual response to the medication before engaging in such activities.

Abruptly stopping Buprenorphine/Naloxone Film - Buccal can result in withdrawal symptoms. It is recommended to consult your doctor for a proper tapering plan before discontinuing the medication.

It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of using Buprenorphine/Naloxone Film - Buccal during pregnancy or breastfeeding with your healthcare provider. They can guide you to make an informed decision.

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Disclaimer

IMPORTANT: HOW TO USE THIS INFORMATION: This is a summary and does NOT have all possible information about this product. This information does not assure that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you. This information is not individual medical advice and does not substitute for the advice of your health care professional. Always ask your health care professional for complete information about this product and your specific health needs.