Abstract
Long-term medication treatment has been demonstrated to be the most effective treatment for opioid use disorder. This chapter covers the treatment of opioid withdrawal and the use of methadone, buprenorphine, and extended-release naltrexone, the three medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for long-term treatment of this condition. It includes an overview of the pharmacology of each medication, specific criteria for patient selection, and guidelines for clinical use of the medications. Other topics covered include federal methadone regulations, procedures for obtaining the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) waiver to prescribe buprenorphine, criteria for an appropriate medication diversion control plan, care for pregnant women, patients with co-occurring psychiatric disorders, and the management of acute pain in patients on addiction pharmacotherapy. Guidance is provided for integrating medication into a comprehensive addiction recovery program that includes medical and psychiatric care, addiction counseling, and participation in mutual support programs. Addiction pharmacotherapy is presented as the most critical element in the successful management of an opioid use disorder.
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Renner, J.A., Crawford, M.B. (2019). Medication for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder. In: Kelly, J., Wakeman, S. (eds) Treating Opioid Addiction. Current Clinical Psychiatry. Humana, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16257-3_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16257-3_5
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