RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A practical guide for buprenorphine initiation in the primary care setting
JF Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
JO Cleve Clin J Med
FD Cleveland Clinic
SP 557
OP 564
DO 10.3949/ccjm.90a.23022
VO 90
IS 9
A1 León-Barriera, Roberto
A1 Zwiebel, Samantha Jayne
A1 Modesto-Lowe, Vania
YR 2023
UL http://www.ccjm.org/content/90/9/557.abstract
AB Buprenorphine is a safe and effective treatment for opioid use disorder but remains underutilized because a major challenge of conventional buprenorphine initiation (termed induction) is that the patient must already be in opioid withdrawal. Previous legal barriers and clinician lack of familiarity with the unique pharmacology of buprenorphine have also limited its use. In this review, we outline changes regarding buprenorphine prescribing laws and physician perceptions of buprenorphine. We also review buprenorphine pharmacology and novel low-dose buprenorphine induction procedures that can be adopted in primary care settings to improve treatment acceptability, retention, and outcomes.