| Title | Narrative review: buprenorphine for opioid-dependent patients in office practice. |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2008 |
| Authors | Sullivan, Lynn E., and David A. Fiellin |
| Journal | Annals of internal medicine |
| Volume | 148 |
| Issue | 9 |
| Pagination | 662-70 |
| Date Published | 2008 May 6 |
| ISSN | 1539-3704 |
| Keywords | Adult, Buprenorphine, Drug Combinations, Female, Humans, Methadone, Naloxone, Narcotic Antagonists, Narcotics, Opioid-Related Disorders, Patient Care Planning, Physician's Role, Primary Health Care |
| Abstract | The profile of opioid dependence in the United States is changing. Abuse of prescription opioids is more common than that of illicit opioids: Recent data indicate that approximately 1.6 million persons abuse or are dependent on prescription opioids, whereas 323,000 abuse or are dependent on heroin. Despite this prevalence, nearly 80% of opioid-dependent persons remain untreated. One option for expanding treatment is the use of buprenorphine and the buprenorphine-naloxone combination. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that can be prescribed by trained physicians and dispensed at pharmacies. This article addresses the clinical presentation of a patient with opioid dependence and describes the relatively new practice of office-based treatment with buprenorphine-naloxone. The different components of treatment; the role of the physician who provides this treatment; and the logistics of treating this growing, multifaceted patient population are also examined. |
| DOI | 10.1002/hpm.1029 |
| Alternate Journal | Ann. Intern. Med. |
