Tag: Partial opioid agonist

With over 106,000 Americans dying from drug-involved overdoses in 2021, and thousands more living with opioid dependence, finding effective treatment is crucial. This is where understanding **what is buprenorphine used for** becomes vital, as it offers a life-saving option for both opioid use disorder and chronic pain.

A 2024 JAMA study highlighted that buprenorphine treatment lowers the risk of opioid overdose by 60%, positioning it as a highly effective first-line medication for opioid use disorder (OUD). The primary point of buprenorphine is to address opioid dependence and manage pain through a unique pharmacological mechanism that offers a safer alternative to full opioid agonists.

The United States saw over 15 million buprenorphine prescriptions dispensed in 2023 [1.8.2]. This guide explains what's in buprenorphine, a key medication in treating opioid use disorder, from its active components to the purpose of its inactive ingredients and combination with naloxone [1.7.1, 1.6.2].