Buprenorphineside effects
buprenorphine 0.6 MG Buccal Film [Belbuca]
Adverse reactions
The following serious adverse reactions described elsewhere in the labeling include: Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Life-Threatening Respiratory Depression Interactions with Benzodiazepines and Other CNS Depressants Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia and Allodynia Adrenal Insufficiency Severe Hypotension Hepatotoxicity Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions Seizures QTc Prolongation Anaphylactic/Allergic Reactions Most common adverse reactions (>5%) include nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, and somnolence. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. at 1-855-331-5615 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
6.1 Clinical
Trial Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. A total of 2,127 patients were treated with BELBUCA in controlled and open-label chronic pain trials. There were 504 patients treated for approximately six months and 253 patients treated for approximately one year. The clinical trial population consisted of patients with chronic moderate-to-severe pain. The most common serious adverse drug reactions (all ≤ 0.2%) occurring during clinical trials with BELBUCA were: cellulitis, pneumonia, ileus, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular accident, syncope, transient ischemic attack, chest pain, non-cardiac chest pain, ankle fracture, cholecystitis, osteoarthritis, and dehydration. The most common adverse events (≥ 2%) leading to discontinuation were nausea, vomiting, and liver function test abnormality. The most common adverse events (≥ 5%) reported by patients who were not opioid tolerant, opioid-experienced patients, and overall patients exposed to BELBUCA in clinical trials and compared against placebo are shown in Table 2, Table 3 and Table 4: Table 2: Adverse Events Reported in ≥ 5% of Patients during the Open-Label Titration Phase and Double-Blind Treatment Phase of Controlled Studies: Patients Who Were Not Opioid Tolerant Open-Label Titration Phase Double-Blind Treatment Phase MedDRA Preferred Term BELBUCA (N=749) BELBUCA (N=229) Placebo (N=232) Nausea 50% 10% 7% Constipation 13% 4% 3% Vomiting 8% 4% <1% Headache 8% 2% 3% Dizziness 6% 2% <1% Somnolence 7% 1% <1% Fatigue 5% 0% 1% Table 3: Adverse Events Reported in ≥ 5% of Patients during the Open-Label Titration Phase and Double-Blind Treatment Phase of Controlled Studies: Opioid-Experienced Patients Open-Label Titration Phase Double-Blind Treatment Phase MedDRA Preferred Term BELBUCA (N=810) BELBUCA (N=254) Placebo (N=256) Nausea 17% 7% 7% Constipation 8% 3% 1% Vomiting 7% 5% 2% Headache 7% 2% 3% Dizziness 5% 2% <1% Somnolence 5% 1% <1% Drug Withdrawal Syndrome 0% 4% 10% Table 4: Adverse Events Reported in ≥ 5% of Patients during the Open-Label Titration Phase and Double-Blind Treatment Phase of Controlled Studies Open-Label Titration Phase Double-Blind Treatment Phase MedDRA Preferred Term BELBUCA (N=1889) BELBUCA (N=600) Placebo (N=606) Nausea 33% 9% 8% Constipation 11% 4% 2% Vomiting 7% 5% 2% Headache 8% 4% 3% Dizziness 6% 2% <1% Somnolence 6% <1% <1% Drug Withdrawal Syndrome 1% 2% 5% The most common (≥ 5%), common (≥ 1% to < 5%), and least common (< 1%) adverse reactions reported by patients taking BELBUCA in the controlled and open-label clinical studies are presented below: Most common adverse reactions (≥ 5%): nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, and somnolence. Common (≥ 1% to < 5%) adverse reactions (organized by MedDRA [Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities] System Organ Class): Blood and lymphatic system disorders: anemia Gastrointestinal disorders: abdominal pain, diarrhea, dry mouth General disorders and administration site conditions: peripheral edema, pyrexia, drug withdrawal syndrome Infections and infestations: upper respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, nasopharyngitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, gastroenteritis Injury, poisoning, and procedural complications: contusion, fall Metabolism and nutrition disorders: decreased appetite Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: muscle spasms, back pain Psychiatric disorders: anxiety, insomnia, depression Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: oropharyngeal pain, sinus congestion Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: hyperhidrosis, pruritus, rash Vascular disorders: hot flush, hypertension Least common (<1%) adverse reactions: Abdominal discomfort, acute sinusitis, dyspepsia, toothache, asthenia, chills, cellulitis, tooth abscess, excoriation, laceration, aspartate aminotransferase increased, blood pressure increased, blood testosterone decreased, electrocardiogram QT prolonged, liver function test abnormal, musculoskeletal pain, neck pain, hypoesthesia, lethargy, migraine, tremor, cough, dyspnea, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea.
6.2 Postmarketing
Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of buprenorphine. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Serotonin syndrome: Cases of serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition, have been reported during concomitant use of opioids with serotonergic drugs.
Adrenal insufficiency: Cases of adrenal insufficiency have been reported with opioid use, more often following greater than one month of use.
Anaphylaxis: Anaphylaxis has been reported with ingredients contained in BELBUCA.
Androgen deficiency: Cases of androgen deficiency have occurred with use of opioids for an extended period of time..
Hyperalgesia and Allodynia: Cases of hyperalgesia and allodynia have been reported with opioid therapy of any duration.
Local reactions: dental decay (including caries, tooth fracture, and tooth loss).
Hypoglycemia: Cases of hypoglycemia have been reported in patients taking opioids. Most reports were in patients with at least one predisposing risk factor (e.g., diabetes). Opioid-induced esophageal dysfunction (OIED): Cases of OIED have been reported in patients taking opioids, and may occur more frequently in patients taking higher doses of opioids, and/or in patients taking opioids longer term. Adverse Reactions from Observational Studies A prospective, observational cohort study estimated the risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse in patients initiating long-term use of Schedule II opioid analgesics between 2017 and 2021. Study participants included in one or more analyses had been enrolled in selected insurance plans or health systems for at least one year, were free of at least one outcome at baseline, completed a minimum number of follow-up assessments, and either: 1) filled multiple extended-release/long-acting opioid analgesic prescriptions during a 90-day period (n=978); or 2) filled any Schedule II opioid analgesic prescriptions covering at least 70 of 90 days (n=1,244). Those included also had no dispensing of the qualifying opioids in the previous 6 months.
Over 12 months: approximately 1% to 6% of participants across the two cohorts newly met criteria for addiction, as assessed with two validated interview-based measures of moderate-to-severe opioid use disorder based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria, and approximately 9% and 22% of participants across the two cohorts newly met criteria for prescription opioid abuse and misuse [ defined in Drug Abuse and Dependence ], respectively, as measured with a validated self-reported instrument. A retrospective, observational cohort study estimated the risk of opioid-involved overdose or opioid overdose-related death in patients with new long-term use of Schedule II opioid analgesics from 2006 through 2016 (n=220,249). Included patients had been enrolled in either one of two commercial insurance programs, one managed care program, or one Medicaid program for at least 9 months. New long-term use was defined as having Schedule II opioid analgesic prescriptions covering at least 70 days' supply over the 3 months prior to study entry and none during the preceding 6 months. Patients were excluded if they had an opioid-involved overdose in the 9 months prior to study entry. Overdose was measured using a validated medical code-based algorithm with linkage to the National Death Index database. The 5-year cumulative incidence estimates for opioid-involved overdose or opioid overdose-related death ranged from approximately 1.5% to 4% across study sites, counting only the first event during follow-up. Approximately 17% of first opioid overdoses observed over the entire study period (5-11 years, depending on the study site) were fatal. Higher baseline opioid dose was the strongest and most consistent predictor of opioid-involved overdose or opioid overdose-related death. Study exclusion criteria may have selected patients at lower risk of overdose, and substantial loss to follow-up (approximately 80%) also may have biased estimates. The risk estimates from the studies described above may not be generalizable to all patients receiving opioid analgesics, such as those with exposures shorter or longer than the duration evaluated in the studies.
Text above is quoted in full from the FDA-approved drug label published by openFDA, effective January 2, 2026. Matched to this product by RxNorm code. Cross-references to other sections of the full prescribing information have been removed, since they point to a document not shown here. Nothing else is changed: no sentence is shortened, reworded or summarised.
Contraindications
BELBUCA is contraindicated in patients with: Significant respiratory depression Acute or severe bronchial asthma in an unmonitored setting or in the absence of resuscitative equipment Known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction, including paralytic ileus Hypersensitivity (e.g., anaphylaxis) to buprenorphine Significant respiratory depression Acute or severe bronchial asthma in an unmonitored setting or in absence of resuscitative equipment Known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction, including paralytic ileus Hypersensitivity to buprenorphine
Text above is quoted in full from the FDA-approved drug label published by openFDA, effective January 2, 2026. Matched to this product by RxNorm code. Cross-references to other sections of the full prescribing information have been removed, since they point to a document not shown here. Nothing else is changed: no sentence is shortened, reworded or summarised.
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