buprenorphine subdermal implant (Rx)

>10%

Headache (13%)

Implant-site pain (13%)

Implant-site pruritus (12%)

1-10%

Implant-site erythema (10%)

Implant-site hematoma (7%)

Implant-site hemorrhage (7%)

Depression (6%)

Constipation (6%)

Nausea (6%)

Vomiting (6%)

Implant-site edema (5%)

Toothache (5%)

Pain (4%)

Dizziness (4%)

Cough (3%)

Somnolence (3%)

Fatigue (3%)

Pyrexia (3%)

Oropharyngeal pain (5%)

Upper abdominal pain (3%)

Laceration (3%)

Migraine (2%)

Excoriation (2%)

Asthenia (2%)

Chills (2%)

Rash (2%)

Scratch (1%)

Chest pain (1%)

Local swelling (1%)

Flatulence (1%)

Sedation (1%)

Paraesthesia (1%)

Dyspnea (1%)

Skin lesion (1%)

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity

Cautions

Rare but serious complications, including nerve damage and migration resulting in embolism and death, may result from improper insertion of drug implants inserted in the upper arm; additional complications may include local migration, protrusion, and expulsion (see Black Box Warnings)

Buprenorphine can be abused in a manner similar to other opioids; monitor patients

Significant respiratory depression and death have occurred in association with buprenorphine, particularly when taken by the IV route in combination with benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants (including alcohol)

Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) is an expected and treatable outcome of prolonged use of opioids during pregnancy

Adrenal insufficiency may occur; if diagnosed, treat with physiologic replacement of corticosteroids, and wean patient off the opioid

Unintentional pediatric exposure; in the event an implant protrudes or comes out, keep the implant away from children; buprenorphine can cause severe, possibly fatal, respiratory depression in children

If treatment is temporarily interrupted or discontinued, monitor for withdrawal and treat appropriately

Monitor liver function tests prior to initiation and during treatment

Verify that patient is clinically stable on transmucosal buprenorphine and not dependent on full agonists before inserting

Treat pain with a nonopioid analgesic whenever possible; if opioid therapy is required, monitor patients closely because higher doses may be required for analgesic effect

May impair ability to drive and operate machinery

May cause orthostatic hypotension in ambulatory patients

May elevate CSF pressure; caution in patients with head injury or intracranial lesions

Can produce miosis and changes in level of consciousness that may interfere with evaluating patient for head injury

Increases intracholedochal pressure (as do other opioids); caution with biliary tract dysfunction

May obscure diagnosis or clinical course of patients with acute abdominal conditions Infection may occur at insertion/removal site; excessive palpation shortly after insertion may increase risk of infection

Administer with caution in debilitated patients and those with myxedema or hypothyroidism, adrenal cortical insufficiency, CNS depression or coma, toxic psychoses, prostatic hypertrophy or urethral stricture, acute alcoholism, delirium tremens, or kyphoscoliosis

Caution with history of keloid formation, connective-tissue disease (eg, scleroderma), or recurrent MRSA infections

Pregnancy

May cause fetal harm

Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome has been reported in the infants of women treated with buprenorphine sublingual tablets during pregnancy

Untreated opioid addiction in pregnancy is associated with adverse obstetrical outcomes (eg, low birth weight, preterm birth, and fetal death); untreated opioid addiction often results in continued or relapsing illicit opioid use

Lactation

Based on two studies in 13 lactating women, buprenorphine and the metabolite norbuprenorphine are present at low levels in human milk and infant urine

Available data have not shown adverse reactions in breastfed infants

Consider the developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding along with the mother’s clinical need for the drug, and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from the drug or from the underlying maternal condition

Mechanism of Action

Semisynthetic narcotic mixed agonist-antagonist analgesic; exerts partial agonistic effects at the mu opioid receptor in the CNS and antagonistic effects at the kappa opioid receptor

Absorption

Implants deliver circulating drug blood levels comparable to the average plasma concentrations observed following daily doses of ≤8 mg Subutex or Suboxone tablet equivalent

Initial peak plasma concentration observed ~12 hr after insertion, and then concentrations decrease slowly

Steady-state plasma levels observed by ~4 wk

Distribution

Protein bound: 96%, primarily to alpha and beta globulin

Metabolism

Buprenorphine undergoes both N-dealkylation to norbuprenorphine and glucuronidation

N-dealkylation pathway is mediated primarily by the CYP3A4

Norbuprenorphine, the major metabolite, can further undergo glucuronidation

Norbuprenorphine has been found to bind opioid receptors in vitro; however, it has not been studied clinically for opioidlike activity

Elimination

Excretion: 30% urine; 69% (feces) collected up to 11 days after dosing

Subdermal implantation

Each dose consists of 4 implants inserted subdermally in the inner side of the upper arm

Examine the insertion site 1 week following insertion for signs of infection or other problems

The implants are intended to be in place for 6 months of treatment; remove implants by the end of the sixth month

New implants may be inserted subdermally in an area of the inner side of either upper arm that has not been previously used at the time of removal, if continued treatment is desired

If new implants are not inserted on the same day as the removal of implants, maintain patients on their previous dosage of transmucosal buprenorphine (ie, the dose from which they were transferred to buprenorphine subdermal treatment) prior to additional buprenorphine subdermal treatment

After one insertion in each arm, most patients should be transitioned back to a transmucosal buprenorphine-containing product for continued treatment

There is no experience with inserting additional implants into other sites in the arm to recommend an approach to a second insertion into a previously used arm

Neither reinsertion into previously used administration sites, nor into sites other than the upper arm, has been studied

Patient Selection

Storage

Store at controlled room temperature (20-25°C [68-77°F]); excursions permitted at 15-30°C (59-86°F)