Buprenorphine in opioid dependence

Buprenorphine is a relatively recent addition to the treatment of opioid dependence in the UK, where historically, methadone has been seen as the 'gold standard' in treatment. Patients have limited treatment options in terms of licensed medications when compared to other mental health conditions.

So why use buprenorphine as a prescribing option in opioid dependence?

Buprenorphine is a NICE-approved treatment for both maintenance and detoxification in opioid dependence. It provides an important alternative to methadone and has similar efficacy in maintenance. It has also been widely accepted that it provides superior results when used for detoxification from opioids when compared to methadone or lofexidine (Cochrane, 2009). However, the relapse rates in the year post-detoxification remain high whatever the method of detoxification.

This module will help you gain confidence in the use of buprenorphine for both the maintenance and detoxification phases of opioid dependence.