WHEN IN DOUBT – TAKE MORE! –
Sept. 27, 2024 – Daily doses of the drug buprenorphine is a standard treatment for opioid use disorder, and the findings suggest that higher doses may be a better way to manage it. Researchers say this could be an important way to improve treatment for people who use fentanyl, a major cause of opioid overdose. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends a daily dose of 16 milligrams (mg) of buprenorphine.
In the first year after receiving treatment, patients who took 16 to 24 mg of buprenorphine took 20% longer to have a subsequent ER or inpatient hospital visit than those receiving 8 to 16 mg a day.
Meanwhile, those taking more than 24 mg of buprenorphine a day went 50% longer before having an emergency or inpatient stay compared to those receiving 8 to 16 mg a day, the study found.
Studies have shown that doses of more than 16 mg of buprenorphine are safe and well-tolerated.
“The findings add to the growing evidence that higher doses of buprenorphine may have meaningful health impacts for people with opioid use disorder,” Volkow said in a NIDA news release.
