Paige Barker, MD 
Carrie Lagasse, PharmD 
Kent Mathias, MD 
Cameron Smith, MD, PhD Buprenorphine Prescribing at UF Health
Buprenorphine is a vital therapy for managing both Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and acute pain, offering a potentially safer alternative to full agonist opioids due to its ceiling effect on respiratory depression. Historically, prescribing buprenorphine for OUD was limited by federal regulations and, more recently, by institutional restrictions at UF Health that limited its use to consulting services.
To align with contemporary practice and expand access to this important medication, the UF Health Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee has removed all prescribing restrictions for sublingual buprenorphine. Any provider with Schedule III authority—including physicians, physician extenders, and housestaff—can now order buprenorphine for inpatient use. This applies to initiating therapy for OUD or pain as well as continuing a patient’s home regimen. While this change empowers more clinicians to use this tool, it is crucial to understand its nuances, such as the risk of precipitating withdrawal, and to ensure adequate follow-up upon discharge.
Resources
The resources below provide essential information on the new prescribing guidelines and foundational knowledge about buprenorphine to support you in using this therapy safely and effectively.
Buprenorphine Formulary Change
Watch this video to understand the recent, important changes to buprenorphine prescribing policy at UF Health. It explains the removal of previous restrictions and clarifies which providers now have the authority to prescribe buprenorphine for inpatient use, empowering broader access to this critical therapy.
What is Buprenorphine (Infographic)
Use this infographic as a quick reference guide to buprenorphine. It covers its mechanism as a partial agonist and provides key considerations for initiation, continuation, and management of both Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and acute pain at UF Health.
Download the Buprenorphine Infographic
Learn more about buprenorphine, including:
- Steps for initiating buprenorphine at UF Health
- Considerations for continuation of buprenorphine