Don't Jump to Belbuca Before Non-Opioids for Chronic Pain
April 2018
The new Belbuca (bel-BYOO-kah) buccal film will raise questions about using buprenorphine for chronic pain.
Belbuca joins BuTrans as a buprenorphine option approved for chronic pain.
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist...and seems to hit a ceiling to limit respiratory depression. It may also cause fewer withdrawal symptoms when it's stopped, compared to other opioids.
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