What medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is right for your patient’s treatment plan?
This is a shared decision making process between you and your patient.
There are three medications to help with opioid cravings and to prevent relapse.
Methadone
Methadone strongly activates opioid receptors in the brain (similarly to heroin), and eliminates withdrawal, reduces craving, and blocks the high from heroin/painkillers.
Buprenorphine
Works similarly to methadone, eliminates withdrawal and drug craving, but it only partially activates opioid receptors and therefore is safer and has fewer side effects.
Naltrexone
Naltrexone works differently from methadone or buprenorphine. It completely blocks opioid receptors. No abuse potential, no overdose risk, and there is no withdrawal when it is stopped
