buprenorphine implant

Buprenorphine implant is a long-acting, subdermal drug delivery system for the maintenance treatment of opioid dependence. The implant consists of four flexible rods, each containing 74.2 mg of buprenorphine, and provides sustained release of the medication over six months. Buprenorphine acts as a partial agonist at the mu-opioid receptor and an antagonist at the kappa-opioid receptor, reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings in opioid-dependent patients while minimizing euphoria and risk of misuse compared to full agonists. The implant is intended for patients who have achieved clinical stability on low-to-moderate doses (≤8 mg/day) of transmucosal buprenorphine products. Developed to improve adherence and reduce risks associated with oral or sublingual formulations (such as diversion or accidental ingestion), it is not suitable for new entrants into treatment[1][2][3][4][5][8].

Brand names

Probuphine

Other names

buprenorphine implant