30-Second Blog Snapshot:
- According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a prescription medicine, which has already been approved for pain management, has been approved in a new medication formulation.
- The product is called Belbuca and it is a buprenorphine buccal film product (dissolvable medication) that provides around-the-clock pain care.
- The pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center talk about this medication for chronic pain.
Medscape, a publication that shares the latest in medical news, released information this week that the FDA is expected to make a new medication available for patients with chronic pain in early 2016. This new medication is called Belbuca, and although it contains an analgesic already approved for chronic pain management, it is still considered a new medication due to its unique formulation.
To put it in layman’s terms, Belbuca is similar to a dental hygiene product that came out in the mid-2000s; the product uses a tactic that mimics Listerine’s famous breath strips, which dissolve in your mouth. This technique is known as a thin-film drug delivery system, and it delivers medication into the bloodstream orally. The new medication formulation for Belbuca works by placing the dissolvable strip inside the cheek for proper absorption.
The product claims to provide the same level of care to patients requiring around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment. The article from Medscape also mentioned this new formulation has a lower potential for abuse because it is technically a Schedule III controlled substance, which is generally “safer” than Schedule II drugs (most opioids fall under the Schedule II category).
Once on the market, the medication will be available in seven dosage strengths ranging from 75 micrograms to 900 micrograms, and it’ll be safe to consume every 12 hours. Of course, physicians will have the ability to customize a patient’s treatment regimen based on their individuals needs.
Like with any opioid medication, Belbuca does carry some risks. The FDA warns the produce may increase a patient’s risk of:
- Risk of opioid addiction, abuse, or misuse
- Risk of serious, life-threatening or fatal respiratory depression
- Risk of accidental overexposure
- Risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal
Patients inserted in this medication formulation should talk to their SWSP physicians about their risk of complication and whether or not the treatment will negatively impact current therapies.
If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With multiple locations across the state of Utah, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.