Noah Capurso, MD

Clinical Update

Xylazine: An Emerging Threat in the Opioid Overdose Epidemic

October 31, 2023

Roberto Sanchez, MD and Noah Capurso, MD

Roberto Sanchez, MD. Addiction psychiatry fellow, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.

Noah Capurso, MD, MHS. Assistant professor of psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT; Editor-in-Chief, The Carlat Addiction Treatment Report.

Dr. Sanchez and Dr. Capurso have no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Xylazine is the latest contaminant being found in the American illicit drug supply. A non-opioid itself, xylazine is usually combined with fentanyl, with which it has synergistic sedative effects. Patients using xylazine can have profound levels of sedation and develop severe peripheral wounds. In this article, we discuss xylazine essentials and cover harm reduction strategies to help keep your patients safe.

Research Update

Intravenous Buprenorphine Microinduction

May 29, 2023

Noah Capurso, MD and Marissa Bayerl, APRN

Marissa Bayerl, APRN, and Noah Capurso, MD, MHS. Ms. Bayerl and Dr. Capurso have no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Buprenorphine microinduction can be a useful method of starting BUP induction, however it is not always feasible, particularly in the hospital setting. Here, we discuss the development of an intravenous microinduction protocol that could provide an alternative to the usual sublingual and transdermal routes of administration.

Clinical Update

Fentanyl Testing: An Emerging Harm Reduction Strategy

May 29, 2023

Noah Capurso, MD and Alyssa Falleni, PharmD

Alyssa Falleni, PharmD. CT Health Education and Research in SUD and Related Harms (CHERISH) Fellow; VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Orange, CT.

Noah Capurso, MD, MHS. Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT; Editor-in-Chief of The Carlat Addiction Treatment Report.

Dr. Falleni and Dr. Capurso have no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Discover the lifesaving potential of fentanyl test strips (FTS). As fentanyl infiltrates illicit drug markets, FTS offer an essential harm reduction strategy. We’ll explore the technology behind FTS, how to obtain and use them, discuss their legality, and examine their role in preventing opioid overdose deaths.

Clinical Update

Gabapentin: A Double-Edged Sword

April 1, 2023

Noah Capurso, MD and Shram Shukla, MD

Shram Shukla, MD. Addiction psychiatry fellow, Yale School of Medicine. New Haven, CT.

Noah Capurso, MD, MHS. Assistant professor of psychiatry, Yale University. New Haven, CT. Editor-in-chief of The Carlat Addiction Treatment Report.

Dr. Shukla and Dr. Capurso have no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Gabapentin has become one of the most widely prescribed medications in America. At the same time, concerns have emerged about its association with opioid overdose deaths. In this article, we review the data behind gabapentin treatment: when it should be used, how to use it, and when it should be avoided.

E-Cigarettes and Relapse to Cigarette Smoking

July 1, 2022

Noah Capurso, MD

Noah Capurso, MD. Dr. Capurso, author for this educational activity, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Evidence for the use of e-cigarettes as smoking cessation agents continues to evolve. In this observational study, researchers find that e-cigarettes modestly increase the risk of relapse to smoking in patients who have managed to quit.

Buprenorphine Treatment

November 5, 2021

Noah Capurso, MD

Noah Capurso, MD

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University, CT. Editor-in-chief of The Carlat Addiction Treatment Report.

Dr. Capurso has disclosed no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

Buprenorphine is a first line medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder yet remains vastly under-prescribed. Here, Dr. Capurso reviews the pharmacologic principles relevant to buprenorphine prescribing and lays out how to start patients on the medication both in the clinic and at home.

A New High-Dose Naloxone: Life Saver or Punishment?

July 3, 2021

Noah Capurso, MD

Noah Capurso, MD

Dr. Capurso has disclosed no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

The FDA recently approved a nasal spray formulation of naloxone. Called Kloxxado, each spray delivers 8mg, twice as much as the most widely used formulation, Narcan. Whether or not this higher dose is necessary, is debatable.