Educational Activities Archives

Drug interactions are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Methadone and buprenorphine are frequently prescribed for the treatment of opioid use disorder.

Patients who choose to use Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) for opioid addiction have a choice of medications.[1] One type of MOUD involve the use of an “opioid agonist.” An opioid agonist binds to the same receptors in the brain that were activated by the drug of abuse, but in a safer and more controlled manner. These medications can reduce the symptoms of withdrawal and reduce cravings, allowing for a more gradual, controlled recovery process and reducing the risk of relapse. The two opioid agonists used in MOUD are methadone and buprenorphine. Another type of medication called an “opioid antagonist” is a newer form of treatment that will also be discussed. Naltrexone is the only opioid antagonist currently available for treatment.

Tim Brennan is director of the Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai St. Luke’s hospitals. He discusses the why and how of transitioning a patient from methadone to buprenorphine, and dispels some common misperceptions that patients and providers have about these treatments.

A patient with opioid use disorder weighs the options for medication assisted treatment and chooses methadone. Dr. John Mariani, a Providers Clinical Support System Clinical expert, explains what she can expect.

Dr. Sanchit Maruti, a Providers Clinical Support System Clinical expert, gives a quick primer on the medications used to treat opioid use disorder.

Dr. Hillary Kunins, a Providers Clinical Support System Clinical expert, discusses the importance of treating opioid use disorder using medications.