MEDICATION OPTIONS
Community Medical Services provides medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for individuals with opioid use disorder. MAT uses a holistic approach to treat the “whole-patient” with the use of FDA-approved medications, counseling, and behavioral therapy. Medication helps to alleviate withdrawal and cravings, allowing the patient to focus on positive behavior changes.
There are 3 FDA-approved medications to treat opioid use disorder, methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. The goal of MAT is to find the lowest possible dose of a medication that will relieve withdrawal symptoms and cravings for a 24-hour period. The medications used in MAT, at a stable dose, do not have any adverse effects on an individual’s ability to work, drive, care for their children, or otherwise live a healthy life.
Methadone
Buprenorphine (Suboxone®/Subutex®/Sublocade™)
Naltrexone (Vivitrol®)
- Long lasting, allows for daily dosing
- Most affordable medication
- Alleviates withdrawal symptoms, prevents cravings, and blocks euphoric effect of other opioids
- No abstinence of opioids required prior to staring treatment
- Synthetic opioid that attaches to the opioid receptor in the brain
- Full agonist that fully activates the opioid receptor
- Long lasting, allows for daily dosing
- Good control of cravings and withdrawal
- Alleviates withdrawal symptoms, prevents cravings, and blocks euphoric effect of other opioids
- Synthetic opioid that attaches to the opioid receptor in the brain
- Partial agonist that activates some of the opioid receptor
- Long lasting injectable medication that is administered every 28 days
- Requires 7-10 withdrawal of all opioid medications
- Not recommended for pregnant women
- Will not alleviate withdrawal symptoms
- Antagonist that blocks all effects of the opioid receptor
Methadone:
- Long lasting, allows for daily dosing
- Most affordable medication
- Alleviates withdrawal symptoms, prevents cravings, and blocks euphoric effect of other opioids
- No abstinence of opioids required prior to staring treatment
- Synthetic opioid that attaches to the opioid receptor in the brain
- Full agonist that fully activates the opioid receptor
Buprenorphine (Suboxone®/Subutex®):
- Long lasting, allows for daily dosing
- Good control of cravings and withdrawal
- Alleviates withdrawal symptoms, prevents cravings, and blocks euphoric effect of other opioids
- Synthetic opioid that attaches to the opioid receptor in the brain
- Partial agonist that activates some of the opioid receptor
Naltrexone (Vivitrol®)
- Long lasting injectable medication that is administered every 28 days
- Requires 7-10 withdrawal of all opioid medications
- Not recommended for pregnant women
- Will not alleviate withdrawal symptoms
- Antagonist that blocks all effects of the opioid receptor