buprenorphine
noun
Note: Buprenorphine is administered by injection to control pain, is used in the form of a transdermal skin patch to control pain or treat opioid dependence, and is used in combination with naloxone in the form of a dissolvable tablet placed under the tongue or film placed inside the cheek to treat opioid dependence.
Examples of buprenorphine in a Sentence
Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Still, methadone and buprenorphine — and a third medication, naltrexone — remain the only three drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration specifically to treat opioid addiction.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 10 June 2026
An autopsy report revealed that the actor's death resulted from the acute effects of ketamine, with contributing factors including drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine, a prescription medication used to treat opioid use disorder.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 28 May 2026
Contributing factors include drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine, which is used to treat opioid use disorder, the medical examiner said.
—City News Service, Daily News, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for buprenorphine
Cite this Entry
“Buprenorphine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buprenorphine. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
buprenorphine
noun
Note: Buprenorphine is administered by injection to control pain, is used in the form of a transdermal skin patch to control pain or treat opioid dependence, and is used in combination with naloxone in the form of a dissolvable tablet placed under the tongue or film placed inside the cheek to treat opioid dependence. Trademarks for preparations containing buprenorphine include Bunavail, Buprenex, Butrans, Subutex, Suboxone, and Zubsolv.
