Buprenorphine–naloxone is first-line therapy for opioid use disorder in Canada
Buprenorphine–naloxone is effective in reducing illicit opioid use, but has a lower overdose risk and fewer adverse effects than methadone.1 Both buprenorphine–naloxone and methadone treatments are associated with reduced all-cause mortality, and both are more effective than abstinence-based treatments.2 Buprenorphine–naloxone is also safe to prescribe and initiate in pregnancy;1,3 however, clinicians treating pregnant patients with opioid use disorder should consider consulting a specialist.1,3
Buprenorphine–naloxone should be offered in all care settings, including primary care, emergency departments and correctional facilities
Treatment started in the emergency department with continuation in primary care is associated with increased engagement in treatment.4 Buprenorphine–naloxone allows for safe home induction for patients not yet in withdrawal.5 Alcohol misuse is not a contraindication.3 Although buprenorphine–naloxone is simple to prescribe, physicians and nurse practitioners should become familiar with their provincial educational recommendations before prescribing. Numerous online and in-person education courses and telemedicine services are available (Appendix 1, available at www.cmaj.ca/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1503/cmaj.180776/-/DC1).
To initiate buprenorphine–naloxone, patients should ideally be in moderate opioid withdrawal
The first dose should not be given until at least 12–24 hours since the last opioid dose, and the patient has a score of greater than 12 on the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale.3 The dose on day 1 is 2–4 mg sublingually every 2 hours until withdrawal has resolved, to a maximum of 12 mg.3
Optimal buprenorphine–naloxone maintenance doses should prevent withdrawal symptoms for 24 hours
The dose can be increased by 2–4 mg per visit to control withdrawal symptoms (maximum 24 mg/d).3 Patients may require daily visits for 3 days but, once stable, can be assessed every 1–2 weeks.3 For patients on the maximum dose with ongoing withdrawal symptoms, methadone should be considered.1 Stable patients wishing to taper require gradual small-dose reductions (2 mg every 2 weeks).
All patients with opioid use disorder should have access to the full spectrum of treatments
Psychosocial interventions, peer support, take-home naloxone and harm-reduction services should be offered.1
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank Dr. Meldon Kahan (Mentoring, Education, and Clinical Tools for Addiction: Primary Care–Hospital Integration [META:PHI] lead, Toronto) and Dr. Suzanne Turner (staff physician at the Addiction Medicine and Substance Use in Pregnancy Program at St. Michael’s Hospital) for their guidance and help in preparing this article.
Footnotes
CMAJ Podcasts: author interview at https://soundcloud.com/cmajpodcasts/180776-five
Competing interests: None declared.
This article has been peer reviewed.
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- Buprenorphine–naloxone is first-line therapy for opioid use disorder in Canada
- Buprenorphine–naloxone should be offered in all care settings, including primary care, emergency departments and correctional facilities
- To initiate buprenorphine–naloxone, patients should ideally be in moderate opioid withdrawal
- Optimal buprenorphine–naloxone maintenance doses should prevent withdrawal symptoms for 24 hours
- All patients with opioid use disorder should have access to the full spectrum of treatments
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