Buprenorphine (Temgesic, Subutex, Buprenex, Suboxone)
Legal Status
U.S. FEDERAL LAW #
Caution : All legal information should be verified through other sources. [see below]
U.S. FEDERAL LEGAL SUMMARY | |
Buprenorphine | |
REGULATED | Yes |
STATUS | Scheduled |
SCHEDULE | Schedule III |
CLASSIFICATION | Narcotic |
Buprenorphine (Temgesic, Subutex, Buprenex, Suboxone) is Schedule III in the U.S. This means it is illegal to sell without a license and illegal to possess without a valid license or prescription.
Buprenorphine was rescheduled in 2002 by the DEA from Schedule V to Schedule III. For more information on this, see DEA's Final Ruling on Rescheduling Buprenorphine, 2002.
On May 22, 2008, the DEA issued a Final Rule in the Federal Register increasing the number of patients a clinic can prescribe controlled substances (such as buprenorphine) to for the purposes of "maintenance or detoxification". Prior to this new rule, the maximum number of patients was 30 and was raised to 100. Drug treatment practitioners must notify the Secretary of Health and Human Services in order to qualify under this rule. See Federal Register: May 22, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 100).
In 2016, SAMHSA increased the number of patients an addiction practitioner can treat with buprenorphine to 275 patients. Final Rule 81 FR 66191 2016-23277
Buprenorphine was rescheduled in 2002 by the DEA from Schedule V to Schedule III. For more information on this, see DEA's Final Ruling on Rescheduling Buprenorphine, 2002.
On May 22, 2008, the DEA issued a Final Rule in the Federal Register increasing the number of patients a clinic can prescribe controlled substances (such as buprenorphine) to for the purposes of "maintenance or detoxification". Prior to this new rule, the maximum number of patients was 30 and was raised to 100. Drug treatment practitioners must notify the Secretary of Health and Human Services in order to qualify under this rule. See Federal Register: May 22, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 100).
In 2016, SAMHSA increased the number of patients an addiction practitioner can treat with buprenorphine to 275 patients. Final Rule 81 FR 66191 2016-23277
INTERNATIONAL LAW #
Austria #
In Austria, buprenorphine is available by prescription both as Temgesic (for pain) and as Subutex (for opiate addiction). (thanks TNS)
Croatia #
In Croatia, buprenorphine is available by prescription only as Subutex in the form of 2 mg tablets for opiate addiction. Pharmacies sell Subutex, but prescriptions may only be dispensed by an approved addiction treatment physician. (unconfirmed) (thanks V) (last updated Dec 2005)
Finland #
In Finland, buprenorphine is available by prescription both as Temgesic (for pain) and as Subutex (for opiate addiction). Temgesic can be purchased from a pharmacy with a prescription, but pharmacies do not sell Subutex which has to be dispensed by an approved addiction treatment physician. (thanks SR)
Germany #
In Germany, buprenorphine is available by prescription both as Temgesic (for pain) and as Subutex (for opiate addiction). (thanks P)
Netherlands #
In the Netherlands, buprenorphine is listed on list 2 of the opiumlaw and available by prescription as Temgesic in 0.2 mg tablets for the treatment of severe pain and by injection in hospital settings. (thanks P) (last updated Jul 2007)
Norway #
Buprenorphine is a class A drug in Norway. Sold in 0.3mg Temgesic for pain relief and subutex (8mg) and suboxone (8mg) for opiate addiction treatment. See http://lovdata.no/for/sf/ho/to-19780630-0008-001.html. (thanks oe) (last updated Sep 26 2011)
Sweden #
Buprenorphine is a Schedule IV narcotic in Sweden. There are two brands, Temgesic and Subutex. Temgesic are sold as sublingual tablets at 0.2 and 0.4 mg and as injectionfluid 0.3 mg/ml. Subutex is sold as subling. pills at 0.4 mg, 2 mg and 8 mg. Generally any physician is allowed to prescbribe subutex, but there is a recommendation that only the ones praticing at drug treatment centers should treat addicts with subutex. Temgesic can be prescribed by any physician. (thanks JM) (last updated Mar 2003)
Turkey #
One visitor tells us that buprenorphine is only available as part of official addiction treatment, with a requirement for a prescription from a doctor working in an addiction clinic, that it be purchased from a major hospital, and also the patient must have passed a urine screen showing they are not using any other opioid. In 2011, available as combination buprenorphine and naloxone preparations at a 4:1 ratio: 2mg buprenorphine+0.5mg naloxone and 8mg + 2mg. (unconfirmed) (thanks W) (last updated June 14 2011)
U.K. (Britain) #
Buprenorphine is Schedule 3, Class C in the U.K. It requires a prescription or a license to possess legally. A Home Office license is required to export buprenorphine. It is commonly used as a treatment for heroin, methadone, or other severe opiate addiction and is often a preferred choice of medication for the treatment of heroin dependency. (thanks DW) (Jan 2005)
If you have information about the legal status of this substance in any other country, please let us know.
CAUTION & DISCLAIMER #
Erowid legal information is a summary of data gathered from site visitors, government documents, websites, and other resources. We are not lawyers and can not guarantee the accuracy of the information provided here. We do our best to keep this information correct and up-to-date, but laws are complex and constantly changing. Laws may also vary from one jurisdiction to another (county, state, country, etc)...this list is not comprehensive.