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Wallace, I., & Viswanathan, M. (2022). Is buprenorphine more effective and safer than other medical treatments for managing opioid withdrawal? A Cochrane Review summary with commentary. RTI Press. RTI Press Research Brief No. RB-0031-2208 https://doi.org/10.3768/rtipress.2022.rb.0031.2208
Buprenorphine is similar in efficacy to methadone (i.e., severity of withdrawal, withdrawal treatment retention, withdrawal completion, and lack of adverse events) and is superior to both clonidine and lofexidine for managing opioid withdrawal.
The review authors did not reach conclusions about speed of tapering the dosing of buprenorphine.
The commentary authors indicate that ongoing research to examine contextual factors in medication for opioid withdrawal will elucidate what characteristics are linked to better outcomes.
The commentary suggests examining the efficacy of substitution treatment following medication for withdrawal.
Abstract
This paper summarizes the published Cochrane Review, “Buprenorphine for Managing Opioid Withdrawal,” by L. Gowing, R. Ali, J. M. White, & D. Mbewe (https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD002025.pub5), and discusses it through a treatment policy and practice lens.
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