Buprenorphine Buccal (chronic pain)

WHY is this medicine prescribed?

Buprenorphine (Belbuca) is used to relieve severe and persistent pain in people who are expected to need an opioid pain medication around the clock for a long time and who cannot be treated with other pain medications. Buprenorphine (Belbuca) should not be used to treat mild or moderate pain, short-term pain, or pain that can be controlled by medication that is taken as needed. Buprenorphine (Belbuca) in a class of medications called opiate partial agonists. It works by changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain.

HOW should this medicine be used?

Buprenorphine (Belbuca) comes as a buccal film to apply inside the cheek. It is usually applied twice a day. Apply buprenorphine (Belbuca) at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use buprenorphine (Belbuca) exactly as directed.

Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of buprenorphine (Belbuca), either once daily or every 12 hours, and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every 4 days. Your doctor may decrease your dose if you experience side effects. Tell your doctor if you feel that your pain is not controlled or if you experience side effects during your treatment with buprenorphine (Belbuca). Do not change the dose of your medication without talking to your doctor.

Do not stop using buprenorphine (Belbuca) without talking to your doctor. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually. If you suddenly stop using buprenorphine (Belbuca), you may have symptoms of withdrawal. Call your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms of withdrawal: restlessness, teary eyes, runny nose, yawning, sweating, chills, muscle and back aches, large pupils (black circles in the center of the eyes), irritability, anxiety, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, stomach cramps, pain in the joints, weakness, fast heartbeat, or rapid breathing.

Buprenorphine (Belbuca) is sealed in a foil package. Do not open the package until ready to use. Do not apply buprenorphine (Belbuca) if the package seal is broken or the buccal film is cut, damaged, or changed in any way.

Tell your doctor if your pain increases or gets worse or if you have new pain or an increased sensitivity to pain, especially after using buprenorphine. Do not use more of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

To apply the buccal film, follow these steps:

• Fold along the dotted line at the top of the foil package. Keep folded and tear down or cut with scissors at the notch in the direction of the scissors on the dotted line. Tear all the way to the bottom. Be careful to avoid cutting and damaging the buccal film when using scissors.
• Use your tongue to wet the inside of your cheek or rinse your mouth with water to moisten the area in your mouth where you will apply the buccal film. Avoid placing the buccal film in areas with open sores.
• Remove the buccal film from the package and hold it with clean, dry fingers with the yellow side facing up.
• Immediately place the yellow side of the buccal film against the inside of your moistened cheek. Press and hold the buccal film in place for 5 seconds and then take your finger away.
• The buccal film should stick against your cheek. Leave the buccal film in place until it has completely dissolved, usually within 30 minutes after you apply it. Avoid touching or moving the buccal film with your tongue or fingers after you apply it. Do not eat or drink anything until the buccal film has dissolved completely. Do not chew or swallow the buccal film.
• After the buccal film has dissolved, take a sip of water, swish it around your teeth and gums, and then swallow. Do not brush your teeth for at least one hour after the buccal film has dissolved.

Are there OTHER USES for this medicine?

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

What SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS should I follow?

Before using buprenorphine (Belbuca),

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to buprenorphine, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in buprenorphine buccal film. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
• tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking the following medications or have stopped taking them within the past two weeks: isocarboxazid (Marplan), linezolid (Zyvox), methylene blue, phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate).
• the following nonprescription or herbal products may interact with buprenorphine: St. John's wort and tryptophan. Be sure to let your doctor and pharmacist know that you are taking this medications before you start using buprenorphine (Belbuca). Do not start this medication while using buprenorphine (Belbuca) without discussing it with your healthcare provider.
• tell your doctor if you have any of the conditions listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section or paralytic ileus (condition in which food does not move through the intestines) or a blockage in the stomach or intestines. Your doctor may tell you not to use buprenorphine (Belbuca).
• tell your doctor if you or an immediate family member have or have ever had prolonged QT syndrome (condition that increases the risk of developing an irregular heartbeat that may cause loss of consciousness or sudden death); if you have low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood; and if you have or have ever had a slow or irregular heartbeat; heart failure; low blood pressure; diabetes; any condition that causes difficulty urinating; seizures; tooth problems, including dental cavities; mouth sores; or gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, thyroid, or liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed while you are using buprenorpine. Buprenorpine can cause shallow breathing, difficulty or noisy breathing, confusion, more than usual sleepiness, trouble breastfeeding, or limpness in breastfed infants.
• you should know that this medication may decrease fertility in men and women. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using buprenorphine.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using buprenorphine (Belbuca).
• you should know that buprenorphine (Belbuca) may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
• you should know that buprenorphine (Belbuca) may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position. To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.
• you should know that buprenorphine (Belbuca) may cause constipation. Talk to your doctor about changing your diet or using other medications to prevent or treat constipation while you are using buprenorphine (Belbuca).
• you should know that buprenorphine (Belbuca) may cause serious problems with your teeth, including dental cavities, dental infections, tooth fracture, and tooth loss. Be sure to have regular dental checkups during your treatment with buprenorphine (Belbuca) and call your dentist immediately if you have a toothache, mouth pain, or any other problems with your teeth or gums.

What SPECIAL DIETARY instructions should I follow?

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

What should I do IF I FORGET to take a dose?

Apply the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not apply a double dose to make up for a missed one.

What SIDE EFFECTS can this medicine cause?

Buprenorphine (Belbuca) may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• diarrhea
• dry mouth
• sleepiness
• headache

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING or SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS sections, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:

• changes in heartbeat
• agitation, hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist), fever, sweating, confusion, fast heartbeat, shivering, severe muscle stiffness or twitching, loss of coordination, or diarrhea
• nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weakness, or dizziness
• inability to get or keep an erection
• irregular menstruation
• decreased sexual desire
• chest pain
• swelling of your face, tongue or throat
• rash
• hives
• worsening pain, increased sensitivity to pain, or new pain, especially after using buprenorphine

Buprenorphine (Belbuca) may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

What should I know about STORAGE and DISPOSAL of this medication?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Dispose of any medication as soon as it becomes outdated or is no longer needed. Immediately dispose of any medication that is outdated or no longer needed through a medicine take-back program. If you do not have a take-back program nearby or one that you can access promptly, then remove any unused films from their foil packages and flush them down the toilet. Throw away the foil packaging in the trash. Do not flush buprenorphine (Belbuca) down the toilet in the foil packages or cartons.

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. https://www.upandaway.org

What should I do in case of OVERDOSE?

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

While using buprenorphine (Belbuca), you should talk to your doctor about having a rescue medication called naloxone readily available (e.g., home, office). Naloxone is used to reverse the life-threatening effects of an overdose. It works by blocking the effects of opiates to relieve dangerous symptoms caused by high levels of opiates in the blood. Your doctor may also prescribe you naloxone if you are living in a household where there are small children or someone who has abused street or prescription drugs. Ask your doctor about other ways that you can obtain naloxone (directly from a pharmacy or as part of a community based program). You should make sure that you and your family members, caregivers, or the people who spend time with you know how to recognize an overdose, how to use naloxone, and what to do until emergency medical help arrives. Your doctor or pharmacist will show you and your family members how to use the medication. Ask your pharmacist for the instructions or visit the manufacturer's website to get the instructions. If symptoms of an overdose occur, a friend or family member should give the first dose of naloxone, call 911 immediately, and stay with you and watch you closely until emergency medical help arrives. Your symptoms may return within a few minutes after you receive naloxone. If your symptoms return, the person should give you another dose of naloxone. Additional doses may be given every 2 to 3 minutes, if symptoms return before medical help arrives.

Symptoms of overdose may include the following:

• slow or shallow breathing or difficulty breathing
• extreme sleepiness or drowsiness
• unable to respond or wake up
• slow heartbeat
• cold, clammy skin
• muscle weakness
• narrowing or widening of the pupils (black circles in the center of the eye)
• unusual snoring

What OTHER INFORMATION should I know?

Keep all appointments with your doctor and laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body's response to buprenorphine.

Before having any laboratory test (especially those that involve methylene blue), tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are using buprenorphine.

Do not let anyone else use your medication. Buprenorphine (Belbuca) is a controlled substance. Prescriptions may be refilled only a limited number of times; ask your pharmacist if you have any questions.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

This report on medications is for your information only, and is not considered individual patient advice. Because of the changing nature of drug information, please consult your physician or pharmacist about specific clinical use.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. represents that the information provided hereunder was formulated with a reasonable standard of care, and in conformity with professional standards in the field. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to such information and specifically disclaims all such warranties. Users are advised that decisions regarding drug therapy are complex medical decisions requiring the independent, informed decision of an appropriate health care professional, and the information is provided for informational purposes only. The entire monograph for a drug should be reviewed for a thorough understanding of the drug's actions, uses and side effects. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. does not endorse or recommend the use of any drug. The information is not a substitute for medical care.

AHFS^® Patient Medication Information™. © Copyright, 2024. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists^®, 4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.

Selected Revisions: May 15, 2023.