Final answer:
Buprenorphine is the mu opioid partial agonist approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with opioid dependence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mu opioid partial agonist approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with opioid dependence is buprenorphine.
Buprenorphine is a medication used primarily for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) and chronic pain management. It belongs to the class of medications known as opioid partial agonists, which means it activates the opioid receptors in the brain but has a ceiling effect that limits the degree of opioid effects it produces. Buprenorphine has unique pharmacological properties that make it effective in various clinical settings.