Buprenorphine

In pharmacology, buprenorphine is "a derivative of the opioid alkaloid thebaine that is a more potent and longer lasting analgesic than morphine. It appears to act as a partial agonist at mu and kappa opioid receptors and as an antagonist at delta receptors. The lack of delta-agonist activity has been suggested to account for the observation that buprenorphine tolerance may not develop with chronic use."

History
In the United States, an injectable version was approved with a New Drug Application (NDA) by the FDA in 1981. An oral/sublingual version (Subutex) was approved with a New Drug Application (NDA) by the FDA in 2002. An oral/sublingual version combined with naloxone (Suboxone) was approved with a New Drug Application (NDA) by the FDA in 2002.

An injectable generic version was approved with a Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) in 1996.

Opiate withdrawal
Buprenorphine is more effective than clonidine or lofexidine and possibly more effective than methadone for treating opiate withdrawal according to a meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration.

Opiate dependence
Although buprenorphine–naloxone may be less effective than methadone, it can be prescribed by qualifying office-based physicians.