OUD 2 - Treatment Flashcards
Name the psychosocial treatments available for OUD (6)
- Structured counselling
- Motivational interviewing
- Case management and care coordination
- Psychotherapy
- CBT
- Contingency management
(Psychosocial tx + pharm = more effective than either alone)
When treating someone with OUD, what is the bottom line?
Start with the person, not with the medications
For OUD, why do we not do withdrawal management alone typically?
Not an effective treatment for OUD. Clinical trials report relapse rates ranging from 53.1-66.7% at 1-month, and 61.1-89.2% at 6-months after withdrawal.
Detox can be an important 1st point of contact and a bridge to other treatment options. However, detox alone is associated with what? (5)
Increases in the following:
1. HIV transmission
2. HCV transmission
3. Relapse rates
4. Morbidity
5. Mortality
What is the MOA of naltrexone?
Opioid receptor antagonist that blocks the euphoric effects of opioids
What are the benefits of naltrexone? (3)
- Ease of administration
- No induced tolerance during prolonged treatment
- No potential for dependence/misuse
What is the negative of naltrexone?
Increased risk of overdose for pts who stop treatment and relapse to opioid use due to decreased tolerance
- Mortality 3-7x higher than methadone related mortality
What is the only formulation of naltrexone available in Canada?
Oral
- Limited benefit vs. placebo
List the withdrawal management (alone) treatments that might be used in an OUD patient (3 +/- 3)
- Tapered methadone, buprenorphine, or alpha-2 adrenergic agonist
+/- psychosocial treatment
+/- residential treatment
+/- oral naltrexone
List the opioid agonist therapies (OAT) that might be used in OUD? (2 +/- another 2)
- Buprenorphine/naloxone (preferred)
- Methadone
+/- psychosocial treatment
+/- residential treatment
What is 1st line treatment for OUD?
Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone)
What is 2nd line treatment for OUD?
Methadone
What is 3rd line treatment for OUD?
Slow-release oral morphine
Dosing of suboxone is based on buprenorphine content. So, what is the role of naloxone in the drug? (4)
To prevent diversion essentially
- Naloxone oral or sublingual is not absorbed
- No effect unless injected
- May negate opiates effects if injected
What are the 3 buprenorphine formulations (aside from the SL tab of suboxone)?
- Patches
- Indicated for pain - Buprenorphine/naloxone buccal films
- Buprenorphine extended release injection (Sublocade)
- Indicated for OUD
- SubQ abdominal monthly injection
Remember the car analogy. What categories do methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone/naloxone fall into?
- Methadone (full agonist) = fast car going 100km/hr - same with heroin, morphine, and codeine - not good - exceeds threshold for respiratory depression
- Buprenorphine (partial agonist) = slow car going 40km/hr - still have an effect but it’s safer
- Naltrexone/naloxone (antagonist) = dead battery - not experiencing any effects
True or False? Buprenorphine quickly dissociates from opioid receptors
False - it slowly dissociates
- The duration of action increases with increased doses
- Labelled max = 24mg/day but dosed up to 32mg/day for some
Describe the MOA of buprenorphine? (5)
1. High affinity (strong binding ability) for μ opioid receptor
2. Displaces heroin or other opiates from receptors
3. Occupies receptor and blocks other opiates’ effects
4. Partial agonist at μ opioid receptor
5. Antagonist a kappa and delta opioid receptors
What are the benefits of buprenorphine being a partial opioid receptor agonist? (3)
- Opiate ceiling effects
- No further opioid effects above a certain dose
- Safer in overdose
What are some common adverse effects of buprenorphine/naloxone? (9)
- Headache
- Pain
- Withdrawal syndrome
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Insomnia
- Runny nose
- Sweating
What are some other, less common adverse effects of buprenorphine/naloxone? (10)
- Flu-like symptoms
- Muscle aches
- Tooth disorder
- Dyspepsia
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Nervousness
- Somnolence
- Dizziness
- Paresthesia
What are some buprenorphine/naloxone drug interactions to be aware of? (2)
- Opioids for analgesia
- Diminished effect
- May require reassessment in acute pain - Alcohol and benzos
- Increase risk of respiratory depression
What are the advantages of using buprenorphine/naloxone over methadone? (5)
- Decreased risk of OD
- Decreased side effects
- Decreased risk of diversion
- Decreased drug interactions
- Milder withdrawal symptoms when discontinued