Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is a substitute therapy that may be part of a comprehensive treatment plan in the medical management of an Opioid Dependence Disorder. It can be used both as a maintenance agent and to help patients withdraw from opioids.
Health Canada has approved buprenorphine for sale in Canada on the condition that specific training for prescribers be provided by the Canadian manufacturer. This training is available online at: www.suboxonecme.ca.
To prescribe buprenorphine in Alberta, physicians must hold a methadone exemption for dependence as a primary care prescriber and have completed specific buprenorphine training. Physicians who complete the training should forward a copy of their buprenorphine training certificate to the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta to update their files.
Contact
Ed Jess, Manager, Physician Prescribing Practices
780-969-4946 or 1-800-561-3899 ext. 4946 ( in Alberta)
Ed.Jess@cpsa.ab.ca