Buprenorphinedosage

Following induction, ZUBSOLV is administered sublingually as a single daily dose. Strongly consider recommending or prescribing an opioid overdose reversal agent (e.g., naloxone, nalmefene) at the time ZUBSOLV is initiated or renewed because patients being treated for opioid use disorder have the potential for relapse, putting them at risk for opioid overdose. To avoid precipitating withdrawal, induction with ZUBSOLV should be undertaken when objective and clear signs of withdrawal are evident and Zubsolv should be administered in divided doses when used as initial treatment. For patients dependent on short-acting opioid products who are in opioid withdrawal; on Day 1, administer up to 5.7 mg/1.4 mg of Zubsolv (in divided doses). On Day 2, administer up to a total dose of 11.4 mg/2.9 mg of Zubsolv as a single dose. For patients dependent on methadone or long-acting opioid products, induction onto sublingual buprenorphine monotherapy is recommended on Days 1 and 2 of treatment. The maintenance dose of ZUBSOLV is generally in the range of 2.9 mg/0.71 mg to 17.2 mg/4.2 mg per day and should be based on clinical response. Administer Zubsolv as directed in the Full Prescribing Information. When discontinuing treatment, gradually taper to avoid signs and symptoms of withdrawal.

2.1 Important

Dosage and Administration Information The difference in bioavailability of ZUBSOLV compared to Suboxone® sublingual tablet requires a different tablet strength to be given to the patient. One ZUBSOLV 5.7 mg/1.4 mg sublingual tablet provides equivalent buprenorphine exposure to one Suboxone 8 mg/2 mg sublingual tablet. Medication should be prescribed in consideration of the frequency of visits. Provision of multiple refills is not advised early in treatment or without appropriate patient follow-up visits.

2.2 Patient

Access to an Opioid Overdose Reversal Agent for the Emergency Treatment of Opioid Overdose Inform patients and caregivers about opioid overdose reversal agents (e.g., naloxone, nalmefene) and discuss the importance of having access to an opioid overdose reversal agent. Because patients being treated for opioid use disorder have the potential for relapse, putting them at risk for opioid overdose, strongly consider recommending or prescribing an overdose reversal agent for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose, both when initiating and renewing treatment with ZUBSOLV. Also consider recommending or prescribing such an agent if the patient has household members (including children) or other close contacts at risk for accidental ingestion or opioid overdose. Discuss the options for obtaining an opioid overdose reversal agent (e.g., prescription, over-the-counter, or as part of a community-based program). There are important differences among the opioid overdose reversal agents, such as route of administration, product strength, approved patient age range, and pharmacokinetics. Be familiar with these differences, as outlined in the approved labeling for those products, prior to recommending or prescribing such an agent. Advise patients and caregivers that opioid overdose reversal agents, such as naloxone or nalmefene, may also be administered for a known or suspected overdose with ZUBSOLV itself. Higher than normal doses and repeated administration of an opioid overdose reversal agent may be necessary due to the long duration of action of ZUBSOLV and its affinity for the mu receptor.

2.3 Induction

Prior to induction, consideration should be given to the type of opioid dependence i.e., long- or short-acting opioid products, the time since last opioid use, and the degree or level of opioid dependence. Patients dependent on heroin or other short-acting opioid products Patients dependent on heroin or other short-acting opioid products may be induced with either ZUBSOLV or with sublingual buprenorphine monotherapy. At treatment initiation, the first dose of ZUBSOLV should be administered when objective signs of moderate opioid withdrawal appear, not less than six hours after the patient last used opioids, to avoid precipitating an opioid withdrawal syndrome. It is recommended that an adequate treatment dose, titrated to clinical effectiveness, be achieved as rapidly as possible. In some studies, a too-gradual induction over several days led to a high rate of drop-out of buprenorphine patients during the induction period. On Day 1, an induction dosage of up to 5.7 mg/1.4 mg ZUBSOLV is recommended. Clinicians should start with an initial dose of 1.4 mg/0.36 mg ZUBSOLV. The remainder of the Day 1 dose of up to 4.2 mg/1.08 mg should be divided into doses of 1 to 2 tablets of 1.4 mg/0.36 mg at 1.5 to 2 hour intervals. Some patients (e.g., those with recent exposure to buprenorphine) may tolerate up to 3 x 1.4 mg/0.36 mg ZUBSOLV as a single, second dose. On Day 2, a single daily dose of up to 11.4 mg/2.9 mg ZUBSOLV is recommended. Patients dependent on methadone or long-acting opioid products Patients dependent on methadone or long-acting opioid products may be more susceptible to precipitated and prolonged withdrawal during induction than those on short-acting opioid products. Buprenorphine/naloxone combination products have not been evaluated in adequate and well-controlled studies for induction in patients who are physically dependent on long-acting opioid products, and the naloxone in these combination products is absorbed in small amounts by the sublingual route and could cause worse precipitated and prolonged withdrawal. For this reason, buprenorphine monotherapy is recommended in patients taking long-acting opioids when used according to approved administration instructions. Following induction, the patient may then be transitioned to once-daily ZUBSOLV.

2.4 Maintenance

The dosage of ZUBSOLV from Day 3 onwards should be progressively adjusted in increments/decrements of 2.9 mg/0.71 mg or lower of buprenorphine/naloxone to a level that holds the patient in treatment and suppresses opioid withdrawal signs and symptoms. After treatment induction to the recommended dose of 11.4 mg/2.9 mg buprenorphine/naloxone per day, dosing should be further adjusted based on the individual patient and clinical response. The maintenance dose of ZUBSOLV is generally in the range of 2.9 mg/0.71 mg buprenorphine/naloxone to 17.2 mg/4.2 mg buprenorphine/naloxone per day. Dosages higher than 17.2 mg/4.2 mg buprenorphine/naloxone daily have not been investigated in randomized clinical trials but may be appropriate for some patients. When determining the prescription quantity for unsupervised administration, consider the patient’s level of stability, the security of his or her home situation, and other factors likely to affect the ability to manage supplies of take-home medication. There is no maximum recommended duration of maintenance treatment. Patients may require treatment indefinitely and should continue for as long as patients are benefiting and the use of ZUBSOLV contributes to the intended treatment goals.

2.5 Method of

Administration ZUBSOLV must be administered whole. Do not cut, chew, or swallow ZUBSOLV. Advise patients not to eat or drink anything until the tablet is completely dissolved. ZUBSOLV should be placed under the tongue until dissolved. The dissolve time for ZUBSOLV varies between individuals, and the median dissolve time observed was 5 minutes. For dosages requiring more than one sublingual tablet, place all tablets in different places under the tongue at the same time. Patients should keep the tablets under the tongue until dissolved; swallowing the tablets reduces the bioavailability of the drug. To ensure consistency in bioavailability, patients should follow the same manner of dosing with continued use of the product. If a sequential mode of administration is preferred, patients should follow the same manner of dosing to ensure consistency in bioavailability. Proper administration technique should be demonstrated to the patient. Advise patients to do the following after the product has completely dissolved in the oral mucosa: take a sip of water, swish gently around the teeth and gums, and swallow. Advise patients to wait for at least one hour after taking Zubsolv before brushing teeth.

2.6 Clinical

Supervision Treatment should be initiated with supervised administration, progressing to unsupervised administration as the patient’s clinical stability permits. ZUBSOLV is subject to diversion and abuse. When determining the prescription quantity for unsupervised administration, consider the patient’s level of stability, the security of his or her home situation, and other factors likely to affect the ability to manage supplies of take-home medication. Ideally patients should be seen at reasonable intervals (e.g., at least weekly during the first month of treatment) based upon the individual circumstances of the patient. Medication should be prescribed in consideration of the frequency of visits. Provision of multiple refills is not advised early in treatment or without appropriate patient follow-up visits. Periodic assessment is necessary to determine compliance with the dosing regimen, effectiveness of the treatment plan, and overall patient progress. Once a stable dosage has been achieved and patient assessment (e.g., urine drug screening) does not indicate illicit drug use, less frequent follow-up visits may be appropriate. A once-monthly visit schedule may be reasonable for patients on a stable dosage of medication who are making progress toward their treatment objectives. Continuation or modification of pharmacotherapy should be based on the healthcare provider’s evaluation of treatment outcomes and objectives such as: Absence of medication toxicity Absence of medical or behavioral adverse effects Responsible handling of medications by the patient Patient’s compliance with all elements of the treatment plan (including recovery-oriented activities, psychotherapy, and/or other psychosocial modalities) Abstinence from illicit drug use (including problematic alcohol and/or benzodiazepine use) If treatment goals are not being achieved, the healthcare provider should re-evaluate the appropriateness of continuing the current treatment.

2.7 Unstable

Patients Healthcare providers will need to decide when they cannot appropriately provide further management for particular patients. For example, some patients may be abusing or dependent on various drugs, or unresponsive to psychosocial intervention such that the healthcare provider does not feel that he/she has the expertise to manage the patient. In such cases, the healthcare provider may want to assess whether to refer the patient to a specialist or more intensive behavioral treatment environment. Decisions should be based on a treatment plan established and agreed upon with the patient at the beginning of treatment. Patients who continue to misuse, abuse, or divert buprenorphine products or other opioids should be provided with, or referred to, more intensive and structured treatment.

2.8 Discontinuing

Treatment The decision to discontinue therapy with ZUBSOLV after a period of maintenance should be made as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Advise patients of the potential to relapse to illicit drug use following discontinuation of opioid agonist/partial agonist medication-assisted treatment. Taper patients to avoid the occurrence of withdrawal signs and symptoms.

2.9 Switching between ZUBSOLV

Sublingual Tablets and Other Buprenorphine/Naloxone Combination Products For patients being switched between ZUBSOLV and other buprenorphine/naloxone products dosage adjustments may be necessary. Patients should be monitored for over-medication as well as withdrawal or other signs of under-dosing. The differences in bioavailability of ZUBSOLV compared to Suboxone tablet require that different tablet strengths be given to the patient. One ZUBSOLV 5.7 mg/1.4 mg sublingual tablet provides equivalent buprenorphine exposure to one Suboxone 8 mg/2 mg sublingual tablet. When switching between Suboxone dosage strengths and ZUBSOLV dosage strengths the corresponding dosage strengths are: Suboxone sublingual tablets, including generic equivalents Corresponding dosage strength of ZUBSOLV sublingual tablets One 2 mg/0.5 mg sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone tablet One 1.4 mg/0.36 mg ZUBSOLV sublingual tablet 4 mg/1 mg buprenorphine/naloxone taken as:

Two 2 mg/0.5 mg sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone tablets One 2.9 mg/0.71 mg ZUBSOLV sublingual tablet One 8 mg/2 mg sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone tablet One 5.7 mg/1.4 mg ZUBSOLV sublingual tablet 12 mg/3 mg buprenorphine/naloxone, taken as:

One 8 mg/2 mg sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone tablet AND

Two 2 mg/0.5 mg sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone tablets One 8.6 mg/2.1 mg ZUBSOLV sublingual tablet 16 mg/4 mg buprenorphine/naloxone, taken as:

Two 8 mg/2 mg sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone tablets One 11.4 mg/2.9 mg ZUBSOLV sublingual tablet