Belbuca is the brand name for buprenorphine delivered in a film format.[1] Buprenorphine is one of the three medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat opioid use disorder (OUD).[2]
Belbuca films are designed for buccal (oral) administration. They dissolve when placed inside your cheek. When administered this way, Belbuca is effective for approximately 24 hours to prevent opioid withdrawal cravings. If it is being used as a pain medication, it may need to be dosed more frequently (twice or even three times a day).
Some Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) options, like Suboxone or Zubsolv, combine buprenorphine and naloxone.[3,4] In contrast, Belbuca is a buprenorphine monotherapy, which means it contains only buprenorphine.
Belbuca is an evidence-based, safe, and effective medication for OUD, which can be used temporarily or as a long-term therapy.
Belbuca can help to do the following:
Buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, is a key Belbuca ingredient. A partial opioid agonist helps to reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms in individuals with OUD. It interacts with the same opioid receptors that full opioid agonists like oxycodone, heroin, fentanyl, and methadone activate.
Unlike a full agonist, buprenorphine does not fully activate the opioid receptors, providing enough opioid stimulation to prevent withdrawal but not enough to get “high” or cause respiratory depression to the same degree as full opioid agonists. [5]
It is, therefore, much harder to get “high” or experience euphoric effects with buprenorphine when taken as medically directed. It is also much harder to achieve a level of sedation that puts the individual at risk for respiratory suppression or overdose, making Suboxone much safer than other full opioid agonists.
Taking Belbuca properly, at the right dosage, and on time is important. Most potential side effects from Belbuca occur if the medication is not taken as directed.
The most common side effects are mild. They may include the following:
Again, when taken as medically directed, Belbuca is a safe and effective medication for treating opioid use disorder.
While Belbuca is a safe medication, it’s powerful. You must respect your medication, and your body, and make good choices while you’re using it.
Take the following important precautions:
Belbuca is a prescription medication that can be prescribed to you by a treatment provider as part of an OUD treatment plan. The Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000) allows buprenorphine medications, including Belbuca, to be prescribed outside of an opioid treatment program.[6]
Belbuca can be prescribed by a qualified physician and picked up from your local pharmacy. Often, Belbuca can be prescribed via telemedicine addiction treatment.
Belbuca is a prescription medication eligible for insurance coverage, depending on your plan, carrier, and policy. Belbuca can be subject to a copay or deductible amount.
Belbuca typically costs around $400 out of pocket for a 60-day supply, which can be drastically reduced if you have insurance coverage or a pharmacy discount plan.
Belbuca also offers a Belbuca copay card that can provide you with significant savings and copay assistance.[7] Savings are based on eligibility, but you may be able to get Belbuca for as low as $0 a month after activating your Belbuca copay card.
Talk to your provider about Belbuca and the potential payment options for this lifesaving OUD treatment medication.
Your doctor should outline how to start taking your Belbuca when you first begin this treatment. Because everyone’s recovery is unique, your plan might look a little different than someone else’s. But most MAT programs are similar.
Belbuca treatment typically involves these steps:
Recovery takes time, and your program might look very different than the one we’ve outlined here. But these steps are common in MAT programs.
The FDA approved three types of medications to help people with OUD.[2] Each one of these medications comes with different formulations (and names).
Your alternatives include medications containing these:
Your doctor can assess how severe your OUD is, your general health, and your preferences to determine which therapy is right for you.
Peter Manza, PhD received his BA in Psychology and Biology from the University of Rochester and his PhD in Integrative Neuroscience at Stony Brook University. He is currently working as a research scientist in Washington, DC. His research focuses on the role of the brain dopamine system in substance use disorders and in aging. He also studies brain function in obesity and eating disorders.
