A secondary analysis of the X:BOT trial found lower cannabis use among patients treated with buprenorphine compared to extended-release naltrexone. While opioid outcomes were similar once treatment was initiated, this research suggests that buprenorphine may have an edge for patients with comorbid cannabis use disorder.

Long-acting injectable formulations of buprenorphine can be a good treatment option for patients with opioid use disorder, particularly for those with poor adherence. However, starting long-acting injectable medications typically requires the patient to be on a stable dose of sublingual buprenorphine. Here, researchers demonstrate the feasibility of starting buprenorphine with a microinduction approach followed shortly by administration of a long-acting injection.

Buprenorphine induction typically requires that a patient experience moderate opioid withdrawal before starting the medication in order to avoid precipitating severe withdrawal symptoms. This waiting period is uncomfortable and can be a treatment barrier. In this study, researchers develop and test an induction protocol using injectable buprenorphine that gets around this initial waiting period.

Buprenorphine and methadone are both first-line treatments for opioid use disorder during pregnancy. Though this recommendation has been long-standing, it is based on a rather small study that is nearly 15 years old. In the current study, researchers revisit the question of how best to treat opioid use disorder during pregnancy with a large observational cohort study.

Pregnant patients with OUD may be reluctant to reveal their substance use for fear of losing their baby if reported to Child Protective Services. But this recent study shows that pregnant patients receiving medication treatment for OUD were more likely to leave the hospital with their baby than patients not receiving treatment.

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. 

Dr. Hermes discusses the intricacies of medications for opioid use disorder by outlining the advantages, disadvantages, and side effect profile of each. She will help you choose the best treatment approach for your patients with opioid use disorder by providing a review of relevant literature and gives you language to use in the clinic.

Opioid agonist treatments, namely methadone and buprenorphine, save the lives of people with opioid use disorders. In this study, researchers break down how exactly these medications decrease mortality, and it’s not just by reducing overdoses.