Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine 4 Patch Weekly
What is Buprenorphine?
Buprenorphine (Subutex) is a prescription medication used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and, in certain formulations, chronic pain. It is a partial opioid agonist that helps reduce cravings, relieve withdrawal symptoms, and lower the risk of opioid misuse while supporting long-term recovery.
Side Effects
- Severe constipation
- Extreme dizziness or weakness, shallow breathing, sweating, seizures, cold or clammy skin
- Dark urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes
Warnings
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease or breathing problems (including COPD, sleep apnea), heart disease, heart rhythm problems, adrenal problems, gallbladder problems, low blood pressure, pancreas problems, or stomach or bowel problems. Tell your doctor if you have heart disease, congestive heart failure, a slow heartbeat, or a history of heart rhythm problems (including long QT syndrome). Tell your doctor if you have a history of head injury, brain tumor, seizures, depression, or alcohol or drug abuse.
- This medicine may cause the following problems:High risk of overdose, which can lead to deathRespiratory depression (serious breathing problem that can be life-threatening)Sleep-related breathing problems (including sleep apnea, sleep-related hypoxemia)Worsening of painAdrenal gland problemsLow blood pressureHeart rhythm problems, including QT prolongationLiver problemsSerotonin syndrome, when used with certain medicines
- Do not let the patch get too hot. Avoid direct sunlight, and do not use a heating pad, electric blanket, heated waterbed, sauna, sun lamp, or hot tub. Call your doctor if you have a fever higher than 102 degrees F.
- Be careful about letting other people come in contact with your patch. If any medicine gets on another person, wash it off right away with water.
- This medicine may make you lightheaded, dizzy, or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. Sit or lie down if you feel dizzy. Stand up carefully.
Prescription savings · · · ·
What is Buprenorphine ?
Buprenorphine (Subutex) is a prescription medication used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and, in certain formulations, chronic pain. It is a partial opioid agonist that helps reduce cravings, relieve withdrawal symptoms, and lower the risk of opioid misuse while supporting long-term recovery.
- Severe constipation
- Extreme dizziness or weakness, shallow breathing, sweating, seizures, cold or clammy skin
- Dark urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes
- Severe confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting
- Fast, slow, or uneven heartbeat
- Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
- Anxiety, restlessness, fast heartbeat, fever, sweating, muscle spasms, twitching, diarrhea, seeing or hearing things that are not there
- Blue lips, fingernails, or skin
- Changes in skin color, dark freckles, cold feeling, tiredness, weight loss
- Worsening of pain, increased sensitivity to pain
- Slow or trouble breathing
- Swelling, burns, or blisters where the patch is placed
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease or breathing problems (including COPD, sleep apnea), heart disease, heart rhythm problems, adrenal problems, gallbladder problems, low blood pressure, pancreas problems, or stomach or bowel problems. Tell your doctor if you have heart disease, congestive heart failure, a slow heartbeat, or a history of heart rhythm problems (including long QT syndrome). Tell your doctor if you have a history of head injury, brain tumor, seizures, depression, or alcohol or drug abuse.
- This medicine may cause the following problems:High risk of overdose, which can lead to deathRespiratory depression (serious breathing problem that can be life-threatening)Sleep-related breathing problems (including sleep apnea, sleep-related hypoxemia)Worsening of painAdrenal gland problemsLow blood pressureHeart rhythm problems, including QT prolongationLiver problemsSerotonin syndrome, when used with certain medicines
- Do not let the patch get too hot. Avoid direct sunlight, and do not use a heating pad, electric blanket, heated waterbed, sauna, sun lamp, or hot tub. Call your doctor if you have a fever higher than 102 degrees F.
- Be careful about letting other people come in contact with your patch. If any medicine gets on another person, wash it off right away with water.
- This medicine may make you lightheaded, dizzy, or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. Sit or lie down if you feel dizzy. Stand up carefully.
- This medicine can be habit-forming. Do not use more than your prescribed dose. Call your doctor if you think your medicine is not working.
- Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.
- This medicine may cause constipation, especially with long-term use. Ask your doctor if you should use a laxative to prevent and treat constipation.
- This medicine could cause infertility. Talk with your doctor before using this medicine if you plan to have children.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
Buprenorphine Coupons & Prices
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Looking for a buprenorphine coupon? Buprenorphine is a widely used generic medicine, and because it is generic it is already one of the lower-cost options in its class. Even so, the cash price can vary a great deal from one pharmacy to the next, so comparing before you fill really matters. Rx.com checks prices across more than 60,000 pharmacies so you can find today's lowest price near you. Enter your ZIP above to see the current price and print or text yourself a free discount coupon.
What is buprenorphine and how does it work?
Buprenorphine is an opioid partial agonist (a partial agonist-antagonist analgesic). It attaches to the same receptors in the brain as other opioids but activates them only partially, which helps reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms while producing a weaker effect than full opioids. It is FDA-approved to treat opioid use disorder (opioid dependence), for both starting treatment (induction) and long-term maintenance. It is most often prescribed as buprenorphine combined with naloxone (the active ingredients in Suboxone and Zubsolv), or as buprenorphine alone, including the long-acting Sublocade extended-release injection given by a healthcare provider.
Buprenorphine-only products are also FDA-approved to manage pain severe enough to require an opioid: a transdermal patch (Butrans), a buccal film (Belbuca), and an injection (Buprenex). Your prescriber chooses the formulation based on what is being treated. This information is educational and is not a substitute for advice from your own doctor or pharmacist.
How much does buprenorphine cost without insurance?
Buprenorphine is available as an FDA-approved generic, which usually keeps the cash price lower than brand-name versions. But "generic" does not mean the price is the same everywhere. The out-of-pocket price without insurance can differ widely between pharmacies in the same town, and it also depends on the formulation (sublingual film or tablet, patch, buccal film, or injection) and the strength and quantity your prescriber writes. That is exactly why comparing pays off.
Rx.com compares buprenorphine prices across more than 60,000 U.S. pharmacies and gives you a free discount coupon you can use whether or not you have insurance. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price near you. If you are prescribed the brand combination product Suboxone, the manufacturer maintains an official savings program on its website, suboxone.com; eligibility and terms vary, so check the site for current details.
Buprenorphine vs. related medicines
Buprenorphine is one of several options used in opioid use disorder treatment, and the right choice depends on your history and your provider's judgment. Related medicines include:
- Buprenorphine-naloxone — the combination behind Suboxone and Zubsolv; the naloxone is added to discourage misuse.
- Sublocade — a once-monthly extended-release buprenorphine injection given in a clinic.
- Methadone — a full opioid agonist dispensed through certified programs.
- Naltrexone — an opioid blocker (not an opioid itself) taken after detox.
- Naloxone — the emergency overdose-reversal medicine, also included in the combination products.
For pain, buprenorphine-only forms such as Belbuca are used differently from the addiction-treatment products. Talk with your prescriber about which option fits your situation.
Buprenorphine safety and side effects
Buprenorphine carries FDA boxed warnings. Like other opioids it has a risk of addiction, abuse, and misuse that can lead to overdose and death, and it can cause life-threatening respiratory depression (slowed or stopped breathing) — the risk is highest when starting or increasing the dose and when it is combined with benzodiazepines, other central-nervous-system depressants, or alcohol. Accidental exposure, especially in children, can be fatal, so store it safely out of reach. Prolonged use during pregnancy can cause neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome in the newborn. Do not stop suddenly, as physical dependence can lead to withdrawal.
Common or notable effects can include drowsiness and impaired driving, dizziness or fainting when standing up (orthostatic hypotension), and — with sublingual and buccal products — serious dental problems such as cavities and tooth loss, so good dental care matters. Starting buprenorphine too soon after other opioids can precipitate withdrawal, and sublingual products must never be injected. This is not medical advice; report side effects and any other medicines you take to your provider, and follow their instructions.
This Buprenorphine information was written and reviewed against authoritative U.S. medical sources — MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), DailyMed, and FDA prescribing information — and checked for accuracy. It is provided for education and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Verify the official label: Buprenorphine on DailyMed (FDA)
Reviewed against FDA labeling · Last reviewed July 2026
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Medical disclaimer: This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a licensed physician, pharmacist, or other qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.