This NHS content is written for people in England. Medicine names, availability, prescribing and services may differ in other countries.
Buprenorphine is a strong opioid medicine. It's mainly used to treat moderate to severe pain, for example during or after an operation or a serious injury, or pain from cancer.
It's also used for other types of long-term pain when weaker painkillers have stopped working.
It works by blocking pain signals between the brain and the rest of the body. It also reduces the anxiety and stress caused by pain.
It can also be used to treat drug dependency, but this is usually prescribed by a specialist.
Buprenorphine is only available on prescription. It comes as:
- patches to put on your skin
- tablets that dissolve in your mouth
- injections – usually only given in hospital
- implants that are inserted under the skin of your upper arm – only used for drug dependency
View the original NHS website page ↗. Refreshed 19 August 2026.
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