Buprenorphine and naloxone is a combination medicine used for the maintenance treatment of opioid dependence in adults. It is available in sublingual film and sublingual tablet dosage forms under the brand names Suboxone, Zubsolv, Bunavail (discontinued), and Cassipa (discontinued).

Buprenorphine is a long-acting, partial opioid agonist that is used in people who are addicted to shorter-acting opioid drugs (such as heroin, hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine and fentanyl) to reduce the withdrawal symptoms and cravings associated with opioid dependence.

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that works to discourage people who are dependent on intravenous (IV) opioids from injecting the buprenorphine/naloxone combination.

Buprenorphine/naloxone is used as part of a complete treatment program that also includes counseling and behavioral therapy.

Because the buprenorphine/naloxone combination contains buprenorphine (which belongs to the class of drugs called narcotic analgesics) it is listed under Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) due to its potential for abuse.

Buprenorphine/Naloxone Formulations Available in the United States