Buprenorphine Naloxone Film versus Tablets for Opioid Use Disorder

Details

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Project Status:
Completed
Project Line:
Health Technology Review
Project Sub Line:
Rapid Review
Project Number:
RC1513-000

Question

  1. What is the comparative clinical effectiveness of sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone film versus tablets for people with opioid use disorder?
  2. What is the comparative cost-effectiveness of sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone film versus tablets for people with opioid use disorder?
  3. What are the evidence-based recommendations for sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone film for people with opioid use disorder?

Key Message

Medication for opioid use disorder is essential for reducing cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and facilitating recovery, with buprenorphine being preferred over methadone by health care providers and people with opioid use disorder due to its lower overdose risk and perceived lower side effect profile. In Canada, buprenorphine is available in various formulations, including buprenorphine-naloxone (BUP-NAL), commonly chosen for its safety benefits and convenience. Sublingual buprenorphine-naloxone films offer faster dissolution and potentially other benefits compared to sublingual tablets, evaluating their comparative clinical and cost-effectiveness is important as they become more widely available.