Which statement regarding buprenorphine is accurate?

The statement that buprenorphine has a lower number of drug-drug interactions compared to methadone is accurate because buprenorphine is a partial μ-opioid receptor agonist, which generally leads to a more favorable side effect profile. As such, it tends to interact with fewer drugs than methadone, which is a full μ-opioid agonist and has a more complex pharmacokinetic profile, leading to a higher likelihood of significant interactions with a wide variety of medications. This quality makes buprenorphine a safer option in many cases, especially for patients requiring multiple medications.

Regarding the other statements, buprenorphine does not have a notably higher incidence of opioid-induced respiratory depression compared to full agonists; in fact, its ceiling effect on respiratory depression is one of its safety advantages. While buprenorphine does come in several formulations for the treatment of both pain and opioid dependence, this variety does not significantly differentiate it from other medications in this respect. Lastly, describing buprenorphine as a full μ agonist and an antagonist of NMDA receptors, as well as a norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is misleading; buprenorphine primarily acts as a partial agonist at the μ