Buprenorphine is a potent analgesic often used in the treatment of opioid addiction. The drug is sold under the trade names Subutex™, Buprenex™, Temgesic™ and Suboxone™, which contain Buprenorphine HCl alone or in combination with Naloxone HCl. Therapeutically, Buprenorphine is used as a substitution treatment for opioid addicts. Substitution treatment is a form of medical care offered to opiate addicts (primarily heroin addicts) based on a similar or identical substance to the drug normally used.

 

In substitution therapy, Buprenorphine is as effective as Methadone but demonstrates a lower level of physical dependence. Concentrations of free Buprenorphine and Norbuprenorphine in urine may be less than 1 ng/mL after therapeutic administration, but can range up to 20 ng/mL in abuse situations. The plasma half-life of Buprenorphine is 2-4 hours. 1 While complete elimination of a single-dose of the drug can take as long as 6 days, the detection window for the parent drug in urine is thought to be approximately 3 days.