Brixadi injections replace the need for daily medication, eliminating the risk of forgetting or losing doses, and saving time compared to taking buprenorphine sublingually, which can be inconvenient. Weekly or monthly injections improve adherence to treatment, and may provide higher blood buprenorphine levels with improved blocking of cravings. The risk of dental decay associated with sublingual buprenorphine is also reduced. 

Before receiving Brixadi injections, you should have already started taking a sublingual form of buprenorphine and ruled out significant adverse effects since Brixadi cannot be removed from your body. Although rare, Brixadi, like any buprenorphine product, can harm your liver, so you should receive periodic blood tests to monitor liver function. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your provider before receiving Brixadi and inform them if you notice drowsiness or slow breathing in the nursing baby. Brixadi cannot be immediately discontinued and may block the effect of opioid pain-relieving medications, complicating the management of acute pain. Additionally, your body will be more sensitive to opioids in the future, and using the same amount as before could lead to overdose or death.

Brixadi is injected under the skin (leg, stomach, butt, or upper arm) either once per week or once per month. After each injection, you may see or feel a small lump under your skin where the medicine was injected. This could last for several weeks, but the lump should gradually get smaller. Avoid rubbing or massaging the lump or wearing tight clothing over the area.

No, Brixadi is not available in retail pharmacies. It can only be ordered and administered by a healthcare provider.

If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, discuss the possible risks and benefits of Brixadi with your healthcare provider. Brixadi contains buprenorphine which can cause your baby to experience awithdrawal syndrome after birth. This is generally easily managed in a hospital setting. If you are breastfeeding, Brixadi can pass into your breast milk and potentially cause sedation of your baby. Infants should be monitored for signs of sedation.

Do not take Brixadi with other opioid medicines, benzodiazepines, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants as this can cause severe drowsiness, breathing problems, coma, and death. Always inform your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.