Buprenorphine is a medication primarily used to treat opioid dependence and manage moderate to severe pain. It belongs to a class of drugs called opioid analgesics.

Buprenorphine works by binding to and activating opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and other tissues. It has partial agonist activity at the mu-opioid receptor and antagonist activity at the kappa-opioid receptor. This dual action results in analgesia (pain relief) while also reducing the potential for abuse and dependence compared to full opioid agonists like morphine or heroin