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- Buprenorphine for Painkiller Addiction
Buprenorphine is an opioid with effects that are similar to (but milder than) heroin or methadone. In 2002, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid addiction.
Like other opioids, buprenorphine works by attaching to receptors in the brain that block pain, slow breathing, and cause general feelings of calm or euphoria. Buprenorphine blocks the effects of other opioids, decreases opioid cravings, and suppresses withdrawal symptoms.
Among the benefits of using buprenorphine in addiction treatment is that, unlike heroin or other opiates, buprenorphine has a “ceiling,” or a dosage limit after which higher doses no longer have an impact.
Currently, two versions of buprenorphine (Subutex® and Suboxone®) have been approved by the FDA for use in opioid addiction treatment.