Before using buprenorphine (Belbuca),
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to buprenorphine, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in buprenorphine buccal films. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and any of the following: amiodarone (Cordarone, Nexterone, Pacerone); anticholinergics (atropine, belladonna, benztropine, dicyclomine, diphenhydramine, isopropamide, procyclidine, and scopolamine); butorphanol; carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol, Teril, others); clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac); cyclobenzaprine (Amrix); dextromethorphan (found in many cough medications; in Nuedexta); disopyramide (Norpace); diuretics ('water pills'); dofetilide (Tikosyn); enzalutamide (Xtandi); human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) medications such as atazanavir (Reyataz, in Evotaz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva, in Atripla), etravirine (Intelence), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), and saquinavir (Invirase); itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox); ketoconazole (Nizoral); lithium (Lithobid); medications for migraine headaches such as almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex, in Treximet), and zolmitriptan (Zomig); mirtazapine (Remeron); nalbuphine; nefazodone; pentazocine (Talwin); phenobarbital; phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); pioglitazone (Actos); procainamide; quinidine (in Nuedexta); rifabutin (Mycobutin); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); 5HT3 serotonin blockers such as alosetron (Lotronex), dolasetron (Anzemet), granisetron (Kytril), ondansetron (Zofran, Zuplenz), or palonosetron (Aloxi); selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, in Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Brisdelle, Prozac, Pexeva), and sertraline (Zoloft); serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors such as duloxetine (Cymbalta), desvenlafaxine (Khedezla, Pristiq), milnacipran (Savella), and venlafaxine (Effexor); tramadol (Conzip, Ultram, in Ultracet); trazodone ; sotalol (Betapace, Sotylize, others); or tricyclic antidepressants ('mood elevators') such as amitriptyline, clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Silenor), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil). Also tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or receiving the following monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors or if you have stopped taking them within the past two weeks: isocarboxazid (Marplan), linezolid (Zyvox), methylene blue, phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with buprenorphine, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort and tryptophan.
tell your doctor if you have any of the conditions listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section or paralytic ileus (condition in which food does not move through the intestines) or a blockage in the stomach or intestines. Your doctor may tell you not to use buprenorphine (Belbuca).
tell your doctor if you or an immediate family member have or have ever had prolonged QT syndrome (condition that increases the risk of developing an irregular heartbeat that may cause loss of consciousness or sudden death); if you have low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood; and if you have or have ever had a slow or irregular heartbeat; heart failure; low blood pressure; any condition that causes difficulty urinating; seizures; mouth sores; or gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, thyroid, or liver disease.
tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
you should know that this medication may decrease fertility in men and women. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using buprenorphine.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using buprenorphine (Belbuca).
you should know that buprenorphine (Belbuca) may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
you should know that buprenorphine (Belbuca) may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position. To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.
you should know that buprenorphine (Belbuca) may cause constipation. Talk to your doctor about changing your diet or using other medications to prevent or treat constipation while you are using buprenorphine (Belbuca).