Probuphine Implants

Is Probuphine Available?

Probuphine® is currently off the market and unavailable. It may be available again soon.

What is Probuphine?

Probuphine® contains a medication called buprenorphine. Buprenorphine has been clinically proven to reduce physical dependence on opioids by lessening the severity of withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

Buprenorphine can support recovery from heroin addiction, and prescription opioids, such as:

• Morphine 
• Codeine
• Fentanyl
• Oxycodone (OxyContin®, Percocet®)
• Oxymorphone (Opana®)
• Hydrocodone (Vicodin®) 

Probuphine is a subdermal implant that delivers a steady dose of buprenorphine for six months. Patients who have achieved stability using buprenorphine as a daily medication can benefit from the Probuphine implant.

How does Probuphine work?

Buprenorphine is classified as a partial opioid agonist. This means that it acts on the same opioid receptors in the brain as true opioids, and produces similar, but much weaker, effects. You won’t experience euphoria, or “high,” when taking buprenorphine, and it won’t relieve pain, but it will reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms.

The most common symptoms of opioid withdrawal include:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Body aches
• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Irritability
• Depression 

Your experienced provider at Northshore Family Practice inserts the Probuphine implant under the skin of your upper arm in a simple office procedure, using local anesthesia. The implant delivers a steady stream of medication into your bloodstream, so you don’t have to worry about remembering to take your medication or refilling your prescription for six months.

Probuphine and other addiction medications aren’t a cure for substance use disorder. However, they can significantly improve your chance of long-term recovery when used as part of a full-scale treatment plan.

Is the Probuphine implant right for me?

If you’ve been taking a moderate dose of buprenorphine daily for at least three months, you may be a candidate for Probuphine. If you’re new to Northshore Family Practice, you should schedule a confidential evaluation with a skilled expert who can assess your candidacy for Probuphine. 

If your provider determines that Probuphine is right for you, they incorporate the medication into a custom treatment plan. This plan, tailored to meet your individual needs, also includes a recovery support program, integrative, holistic medical care, and recommendations for counseling and other mental health services.

To learn more about how the Probuphine implant can make your recovery process easier, schedule a confidential consultation at Northshore Family Practice. Call today or book online.