Presentation Synopsis
This educational presentation by the Opioid Remediation Collaborative (ORCNM) provides a clinical overview of medications used to treat opioid use disorder (MOUD), including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. The session reviews the pharmacology, therapeutic applications, and selection criteria for each medication, while addressing stigma, safety concerns, and individualized care considerations in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Learning Objectives
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Describe the three primary classes of medications used in MOUD—agonists, partial agonists, and antagonists— including their mechanisms of action and appropriate clinical applications.
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Differentiate the pharmacological profiles, benefits, and limitations of methadone, buprenorphine (including extended-release formulations), and naltrexone.
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Recognize the goals of MOUD, including withdrawal suppression, craving reduction, relapse prevention, and physiological stabilization.
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Understand key considerations for initiating and transitioning between MOUD therapies, such as withdrawal timing, risk of precipitated withdrawal, comorbidities, and patient preferences.
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Identify patient-specific factors that influence medication selection, including pregnancy, liver function, co-occurring disorders, and insurance or regulatory constraints.
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Address common misconceptions and stigma associated with medication-assisted treatment, and promote a recovery-oriented model that values functional outcomes over medication status alone.