buprenorphine

noun bu·pre·nor·phine \ ˌbyü-prə-ˈnȯr-ˌfēn , -fən \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Definition of buprenorphine

: a semisynthetic narcotic analgesic that is administered in the form of its hydrochloride C₂₉H₄₁NO₄·HCl to control moderate to severe pain and treat opioid dependence

Note: Buprenorphine is administered by injection to control pain, is used in the form of a transdermal skin patch to control pain or treat opioid dependence, and is used in combination with naloxone in the form of a dissolvable tablet placed under the tongue or film placed inside the cheek to treat opioid dependence.

Recent Examples of buprenorphine from the Web

Under the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000, physicians must get a waiver through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder.

— patrick skerrett, STAT, "Hey, doctors: Why aren’t you stepping up to treat people with opioid addiction?," 5 July 2018
In 2017, more than 10,700 doctors were added to the pool of those who could prescribe buprenorphine to as many as 30 patients.

— terry demio, Cincinnati.com, "With overdose deaths up, what's ahead? We ask experts on the front lines of the epidemic," 19 Apr. 2018
Currently most jails and all prisons in Massachusetts deny inmates access to the main medications used to treat opioid addiction — methadone and buprenorphine (often known by a trade name, Suboxone).

— felice j. freyer, BostonGlobe.com, "House backs plan to try addiction medications in some Mass. prisons," 12 July 2018
Gold standard Public health officials frequently refer to methadone and buprenorphine as the gold standard of heroin addiction treatment.

— john keilman, chicagotribune.com, "Giving addicted inmates opioid meds behind bars can reduce overdose deaths. Why don't more jails use them?," 6 July 2018
That change was a recognition that many pregnant women with a history of drug abuse take prescribed opioids — methadone or buprenorphine — to manage their cravings, prevent withdrawal, and avoid the miscarriage risk of quitting opioids cold turkey.

— marie mccullough, Philly.com, "Pa. law aims to protect newborns of moms in opioid addiction," 29 June 2018
But studies are starting to suggest that people who use methadone or buprenorphine tend to go into remission sooner than those who don’t rely on the treatments, and stay in remission longer.

— alice park, Time, "Many Doctors Give Morphine to Babies Born With Opioid Addiction. A New Study Suggests There's a Better Way," 18 June 2018
Even pregnant women are put on methadone or buprenorphine to cut cravings without delivering euphoric effects because abruptly quitting opioids increases the risk of miscarriage.

— marie mccullough, Philly.com, "Newborns in opioid withdrawal may do better on methadone than morphine, major study finds," 18 June 2018
The courses focus on safe opioid-prescribing practices, how to administer buprenorphine and other medication, and a counseling technique known as motivational interviewing to help patients with substance-use disorder to set goals.

— catherine ho, San Francisco Chronicle, "As opioid crisis grows, medical schools bolster addiction training," 2 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'buprenorphine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of buprenorphine

1974

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

buprenorphine

noun bu·pre·nor·phine \ ˌbyü-prə-ˈnȯr-ˌfēn, -fən \

medical Definition of buprenorphine

: a semisynthetic narcotic analgesic that is derived from thebaine and is administered in the form of its hydrochloride C₂₉H₄₁NO₄·HCl to control moderate to severe pain and treat opioid dependence