Generic Name: Bunavail for Opioid Use Disorder (buprenorphine-naloxone)
Bunavail for Opioid Use Disorder Reviews
"This medication isn't worth the paper it's printed on, you guys in charge of making a generic for suboxone failed!! This was the first month in a few years I've taken suboxone that I have tried the generic, it wears off fast and I get antsy and restless leg syndrome all through the night and can't sleep. You need to take the generic off the market and give people a coupon to lower the price of regular suboxone so that people who are trying to get or stay clean can afford it. People detox when they are ready, this generic version makes you feel like your having withdrawals after a couple of hours, it's complete utter garbage. Who ever made this needs to be reprimanded severely .People are on suboxone are trying to re-live their life clean and sober day to day. We don't need the the government departments doing this to us, whoever is in charge of this particular area for recovering addicts needs to be removed."
"I have depended on opiates for 16 years. I learned to shoot up my pills after about 2 years of snorting them. I continued this IV use for the last 7 years I used. I was just about totally broke. I lost my home and everything I worked all my life to attain. I was tired of having to worry about getting dope sick. I tired of the constant search for pills or heroin. I was easily using 20 pills a day. I was going through as much as $600 every day. I thought I was too far gone to ever get back and last a normal (ish) life. I thought I'd have to stop breathing to stop using. After a failed suicide attempt, I went to rehab. Today I am 3 days away from 900 days clean. It's a miracle!"
"I was on Percocets for 7 years, and then I started using Suboxone when I was ready to quit. I used Suboxone for two years. I ran out of subs one month, and one of my friends gave me 10 strips of Bunavail, and I had to take 3 strips to stop withdrawal. It didn't give me half the feeling that the Suboxone gave me, so I ended up quitting Suboxone and everything cold turkey. Very, very tough, but I did it. I relapsed 6 months later, used for a month, and decided to quit again. This time I didn't use any Suboxone, I went straight to the Bunavail. I actually cut the patch in half and took 1/2 each day for the first 5 days. After that, I just stopped just to see if I was going to have any withdrawal, but it never came. Now I'm just trying to be strong and stay clean."
"Hardcore I.V. heroin/everything user saved by this drug. After 20 yrs of battling opiate/prison/whole bunch of crap, I leaned heavily on bupe. And broke a cycle that puts most people in a box for life. From Subutex to Suboxone, to Bunavail, I moved up the ladder. I give credit to this drug and packing up, moving south away from all connects. The drug aided me and opened up an opportunity to be productive. I was tired, and 3 yrs later, I sit clean, a beast job, chilling out on the beach. I read all the crying about this and that. Without this drug, I was dead, and to hear all this pampered rubbish about it rolling in your mouth, milligrams tricking you, man or woman - use it to be there for your loved ones."
"Switched from Sub 24mg or so to Buna, 15mg. Just fine, a little getting used to! It only takes 15 minutes to absorb, not dissolve! I spit out the goo after at least 15 minutes! 15mg to 9mg to 6mg! I'm probably going to stay here for a while? I don't want to screw up a good thing! This is the best stuff out there for us chronic addicts! I have my life back."
"I have been taking the 8mg Suboxone strip for a while now. My insurance doesn't cover Suboxone, so my doctor wrote a script to try Bunavail since it would be free with a voucher. Yesterday was my first day on it, and I already like it WAY more than Subs. Positive things about Bunavail: it doesn't have that nasty sub taste. It doesn't give you that feeling that you're okay for part of the day, then need to keep taking more. With Subs, I would have to keep taking pieces just to get through the day. With the Bunavail, I took 1 patch to the cheek, which is 4mg, and I haven't felt this normal in years! I actually feel great! I can go through the day with no urges. The negative is that it takes FOREVER to dissolve on your cheek. I finally feel like I'm not taking a drug."
"This medication gave me headaches from the very first dose. They lasted 3 weeks. I volunteered to try bunivail, so I stuck it out for 3 full months. I have to admit these have been the worst three months ever. I would sweat all day. Hot yet had the chills, I couldn't enjoy food. I forced myself to eat. I would start having withdrawals 4-5 hours after I took it. The ungodly hunk of slim that was left over after an hour would float all over my mouth. This drug sucks. Today I got put back on subs and I kid you not I feel amazing. I am normal again, if I missed a dose of two of subs I was fine with this bunivail I had to do more than I was supposed to just to feel normal. I wouldn't recommend anyone to switch to this crap.."
"This medication is a JOKE!! Stay on subs before you try this. Omg it's horrible. I can't believe the scam these pharmaceutical companies are pushing out with this horrible medication. Feels like I'm withdrawing all over again!!"
"I was on Suboxone in rehab. Then I was put on Zubsolv. After 3 months I was lucky enough to be invited to join a clinical trial for Bunavail. It took me a couple weeks to get used to it. I learned that applying the patch where my cheeks meet my gums helped keep it in place & helped keep it from rolling up. I take 4 2.1mg patches a day. This helps me cope with my chronic pain & keeps me from craving drugs. I think it works as well as other forms of buprenorphine. I will admit that Suboxone seems to give me more energy. I don't know why?"
"I would rather deal with the long dissolve time of Bunavail than the horrible taste, shorter effect and headaches you get from Subs (Suboxone orange sublingual strips). In my personal experience, it takes about an hour in my cheek to get the full effect, but not dissolve completely. That effect is an all-day one versus Subs. On the Subs, I'd have to use a little more after a few hours. Plus a pounding headache if I wasn't careful. On the Bunavail, all of my withdrawal symptoms are gone, I have energy and a great mood. It does the exact same thing as the Subs do, you just have to be patient with the way it's delivered into your system. Which is apparently something half the people out there aren't capable of, judging from the comments."
"I have been on this medication for over 4 years and today when my doctor faxed over my prescription, the pharmacy called and told me the company has stopped making it for the time being and is on long term back order. Anybody that has been on Subs or Bunavail, know that feeling you get inside when you are told that you can't have your medicine when you need it. So now I have to call my doctor tomorrow and see if they can prescribe me Suboxone. Disappointed because the Bunavail was a lot more convenient than Suboxone. Bunavail goes on the inside of your cheek and you can talk and swallow your spit the whole time it's in your mouth. I'm hoping my doctor has an answer for me tomorrow. I am curious as to what is going on for the company to suddenly stop making it."
"Absolutely hands downs the best! I read some of the neg posts on here and you must be taking it wrong. no nasty taste and mine actually dissolves in like 10 minutes once I started leaving it alone after I put it in. Doc made me watch a YouTube video that helped. Plus it's free for me!!!!!"
"I switched to Bunavail because its alot cheaper then suboxone films and even the generic tablets. I have no problems with it. Yes the gummy stuff takes a minute to get used to but less medicine and same results. Works wonders staying on the program."
"I have been on Suboxone type medications since 2002 and it is now 2016; therefore, I would consider that I have tremendous experience with buprenorphine over the years. Suboxone Tablets then film for 7-10 years, tried Zubsolve, which was an awful experience. Finally Bunavail. I was taking 24-32 mg of Suboxone and I've been very very happy with Bumavail because I'm down to 12.6 mg a day. This is the only medication that I can take as prescribed and am feeling less medicated. I absolutely love it. Those who say it's terrible; maybe, but I have an inkling that he or she is just stuck and fears trying something new."
"I was on Suboxone for about 5 years when I became pregnant. During my pregnancy my Doc had me on Subutex and then after my pregnancy it was time to go back to Suboxone. My Doc gave me Bunavail instead. Like somebody else mentioned, it said it was 4.2 mg instead of 8 and my addict brain immediately did not like that. And when I first started it, I HATED it. I would take a whole piece in my right cheek and it BARELY touched my withdraws. I had to wait for it to melt, which takes FOREVER, and then take another one. BUT, one day I put it in my left cheek just to mix it up, and I was SHOCKED that it worked! So well that I actually felt nausious. Ever since I've been using my left cheek and have had no problems, besides the time it takes to melt."
"So I've been taking suboxone for 5yrs now and now this bunavail come out and big pharma convinces insurance companies that's it a better management drug when in reality its not even close! I see many people relapsing due to this! In my opinion bunavail is the worst, nothing about it does what it claims from the dissolving to the actual reason for using it. I'd give it a zero if possible, very disappointed!"
"I switched to bunuvail like most people because my insurance stopped paying for my suboxone. I have been on subs for a year. The bunuvail does what it's supposed to as far as keeping me from having cravings. The only bad thing about it in my opinion is I hate how long it takes to dissolve and it tastes terrible to me. But it does what it's made to do"
"Bunavail is a great alternative to Suboxone films. There is no 30 minute wait for it to dissolve, and one can carry on with normal activities while it is adhered to the cheek. It also has far better bioavailability, so less of the medicine is wasted in the digestive tract. Also, I've had less headaches from Bunavail than Suboxone. The only problem is getting them to properly adhere to your cheek. Sometimes they roll up like a scroll, or wad up and turn into a ball of mush. This wastes a film, and none of us have "extra" Bunavail to use if this should happen (as the manufacturer suggests)! There are no instructions as to how long they should remain adhered, either. I love Bunavail, but this issue is beyond frustrating!"
"Bunavail takes forever to dissolve. I timed my last dose (by the way im day 5 on Bunavail) & no kidding it took near 3hrs to fully dissolve! It also cakes up quite a bit on gums teeth. NOW the Pro's, it last all day from morning through night till next morning... that's a single film! It taste wonderful and yuck and burn sensation i got occasionally under tongue with Suboxone. Now there's no dopey high like u get on subs, more like a sedative but happy vibe just not High as a kite. As i said im day 5 on Bunavail and i still prefer Suboxone but wanna finish the month on it to give a fair shake."
"I hope no one makes a desicion based on other peoples opinion. I didnt at first like it becuz o fcouse 8/2 sounds like more than 4/2, so as an addict more is always better, But all of our bodys absorb meds diffrently, it can depende on alot of things. Subs do give u more energy and takes an hour to dissolve I wake up an hour before it is time to get up and put it in then go back to sleep for an hour so that I'm good to go when I wake up...smart huh"
"Pros- if taking single 4.2mg film a day u get 28 days for free with card... you can talk at work with it in... overall better absorption, leaving you feeling overall better with less drugs... less constipation... no need to cut into sections as one patch last most of day and through the night... Cons- don't laugh or smile real big with it in because it has tendency to stick to your teeth if you do so... long dissolve time (45 min compared to about 15 with the tabs I was on) And for some reason I feel in the morning time after a full nights sleep like it doesn't do as well a job than the tabs. Could have something to do with absorption and it peeking at 2 hours after taken then by morning you feel icky and need to take another."
"Give it time to get your method of application mastered. I bend the four corners in slightly to make them stick better so they don't peel up. Also don't put the film directly over you saliva duct on your check, try putting it below or in front of it. With manufacturer coupon and BCBS I pay $30 for # 60 Bunavail 4.2/0.7mg films. Bunavail is a tier 3 medication, manufacturer card pays $100."
"I give this medicine of 5 because the medicine does what it is intended for. It does block the opiate receptors and it does keep physical withdrawals from happening. The fact that TennCare and other insurance companies pay for it rather than Suboxone is a fantastic thing. However, the method of absorption needs to be improved. I do not feel that it is as effective as Suboxone, buprenorphine or Subutex."
"I have been taking suboxone for about 3 years now and it always worked great for me. Well since my insurance will not cover it any longer, my doc wrote me out this new script of bunavail. I have to say this is the worst Meds I have ever tried. I still feel tired through out the day which makes my mind start to wonder into the wrong places. A huge con for me is how long it takes to dissolve, I held it in for 1 1/2 hours before I finally said screw it and dug it out. This is a pathetic excuse for a replacement. I will not be trying this again, come next week I will be paying for my subs, I don't care how much they cost. All this medication is going to do is get people using again."
"This medicine initially killed the withdrawal, but after five days I realized I was still having cravings really badly. Also, it felt like I was dragging a thirty pound weight around with me coupled with severe depression. Most pharmacies do not carry this medication and most pharmacists I spoke with had not even heard of this drug. All in all I had to hunt this med down and special order it only to find out it sucks. And yes I was taking it correctly the print side facing out towards my inner cheek lining. I am going back to the doc to ask for the one and only Suboxone."
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- Drug class: narcotic analgesic combinations
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Related treatment guides
- Opioid Use Disorder
