Abstract
Prescription opioid dependence remains a major source of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Patients previously on high-dose opioids may poorly tolerate opioid tapers. Current guidelines support the use of buprenorphine therapy in opioid-tapering protocols, even among patients without a diagnosis of opioid use disorder. Buprenorphine microinduction protocols can be used to transition patients to buprenorphine therapy without opioid withdrawal. From November 2019 to April 2020, we transitioned 8 patients on high-dose prescribed opioids for pain to sublingual buprenorphine-naloxone using a microdose protocol without any evidence of precipitated withdrawal. Six of these patients remain on buprenorphine-naloxone and report improved analgesia. Because of its simplicity, the buprenorphine microinduction protocol can be easily adapted for telemedicine and may help to prevent unnecessary clinic visits and opioid-related admissions in the setting of social distancing regulations during the coronavirus 2019 pandemic. ( J Am Board Fam Med 2021;34:S141-S146.) copyright. J Am Board Fam Med: First published as 10.3122/jabfm.2021.S1.200236 on 23 February 2021..
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | S141-S146 |
Journal | Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine |
Volume | 34 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 2021 |
Keywords
- Buprenorphine naloxone
- Covid-19
- Opioid addiction
- Pain
- Pandemics
- Telemedicine
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Family Practice