Buprenorphine is a high affinity, partial mu-opioid agonist with increasing use as an analgesic in patients with serious illness. An X-waiver is no longer required to prescribe buprenorphine for OUD. However, one significant barrier to initiating the sublingual (SL) formulation of buprenorphine via traditional methods is the requirement of an opioid-free period. This Fast Fact describes the low dose initiation method in which there is a period of concomitant buprenorphine and full agonist opioid administration.
Links: Fast Facts #457 (03/2023)
