Brixadi® eliminates the need for daily oral sublingual films or tablets (Suboxone®), drastically reducing medication management friction, adherence fatigue, and the risk of lost or stolen prescriptions.

Key clinical and lifestyle advantages include:

• Improved Treatment Adherence: Steady weekly or monthly dosing removes the risk of forgotten, missed, or late daily doses.
• Continuous Craving Control: Provides stable, uninterrupted buprenorphine blood levels without the daily peak-and-trough fluctuation associated with oral films.
• Elimination of Dental Risks: Bypasses sublingual dissolution, avoiding the increased risk of tooth decay and enamel erosion linked to daily oral buprenorphine films.
• Enhanced Privacy & Convenience: Eliminates the necessity of storing daily controlled substances at home or traveling with daily prescription bottles.

Evidence & Authoritative Reference: The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) highlights that long-acting injectable buprenorphine formulations improve overall treatment retention rates and significantly reduce illicit opioid use compared to daily sublingual medications (NIDA Medications to Treat Opioid Use Disorder).

Brixadi® must be injected under the skin (subcutaneously) by a licensed healthcare provider in a clinical setting; it cannot be self-administered or taken home.

To ensure patient safety and prevent improper intravenous administration, Brixadi is distributed exclusively through a restricted federal program called the Brixadi REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy).

• Injection Sites: Injected into the subcutaneous tissue of the buttock, thigh, abdomen (stomach), or upper arm.
• Post-Injection Depot: A small gel bump (depot) may be felt under the skin at the injection site. It gradually dissolves over the week or month as the medication is absorbed. Avoid rubbing, massaging, or placing tight clothing over the area.

No. You do not need to experience withdrawal to transition from daily oral buprenorphine (Suboxone® or generic sublingual films/tablets) to Brixadi®.

Patients currently stabilized on oral buprenorphine can be seamlessly transitioned directly to an equivalent weekly or monthly Brixadi® dose. For patients who are completely new to buprenorphine, a provider will first administer a single test dose of oral buprenorphine to verify tolerance before giving the initial Brixadi injection.

If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, you must evaluate the risks and benefits with your addiction medicine provider.

• Pregnancy: Buprenorphine exposure during pregnancy can lead to Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) after birth. NOWS is a expected, treatable condition managed safely in hospital settings.
• Breastfeeding: Small amounts of buprenorphine pass into breast milk. Providers evaluate mother and infant health to monitor for infant sedation or drowsiness.

Evidence & Authoritative Reference: SAMHSA and NIH guidelines state that managing Opioid Use Disorder during pregnancy with buprenorphine pharmacotherapy produces significantly better maternal and infant outcomes than untreated addiction or unmonitored withdrawal (SAMHSA Clinical Guidance for Treating Pregnant Women With OUD).

Before receiving Brixadi injections, you should have previously taken and tolerated a form of buprenorphine without significant adverse effects.

Although rare, Brixadi, like any buprenorphine product, can cause liver injury, especially in patients with pre-existing liver disease. Regular liver function monitoring before and during treatment is recommended. Brixadi cannot be immediately discontinued and may block the effect of opioid pain-relieving medications, complicating the management of acute pain. Additionally, if you stop taking Brixadi, your body will be more sensitive to opioids in the future, and using the same amount as before could lead to overdose or death. 

No, Brixadi is not available in retail pharmacies. It can only be ordered and administered by a healthcare provider in order to maintain temperature and DEA regulations.

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

Eligible patients with Alaska Medicaid can typically get their first Brixadi shot within 2-3 business days. Patients with other insurance plans will need to wait 2-4 weeks to allow for insurance prior authorization and shipment.

Eligible patients with Medicaid of Idaho can typically get their first Brixadi shot within 2-3 business days. Patients with other insurance plans will need to wait 2-4 weeks to allow for insurance prior authorization and shipment.

Eligible patients with Montana Medicaid can typically get their first Brixadi shot within 4-5 business days. Patients with other insurance plans will need to wait 2-4 weeks to allow for insurance prior authorization and shipment.

Eligible patients with Medicaid of New Mexico, BCBS NM Turquoise Medicaid, UHC NM Turquoise Medicaid, Molina NM Turquoise Care or Presbyterian NM Turquoise Medicaid can typically get their first Brixadi shot within 2-3 business days. Patients with other insurance plans will need to wait 2-4 weeks to allow for insurance prior authorization and shipment.

Eligible patients with Medicaid of North Dakota or BCBSND Medicaid can typically get their first Brixadi shot within 2-3 business days. Patients with other insurance plans will need to wait 2-4 weeks to allow for insurance prior authorization and shipment.

Eligible patients with Medicaid of Oregon, PacificSource CCO Central OR Region, PacificSource CCO Columbia Gorge Region, PacificSource CCO Legacy Plan, Trillium Community Plan, Intercommunity Health Care Network CCO or Care Oregon can typically get their first Brixadi shot within 2-3 business days. Patients with other insurance plans will need to wait 2-4 weeks to allow for insurance prior authorization and shipment.

Eligible patients with Medicaid of Washington Provider One, Molina Health Care, United Healthcare Community Plan of WA or Coordinated Care can typically get their first Brixadi shot within 2-3 business days. Patients with other insurance plans will need to wait 2-4 weeks to allow for insurance prior authorization and shipment.