Opioid use disorder is a chronic condition that needs ongoing therapy

Think of opioid use disorder as a chronic condition that requires continuous treatment.

This advice comes from Mitra Ahadpour, MD, who is the deputy director of the Office of Translational Sciences at the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and an addiction medicine specialist.

In an interview, Dr. Ahadpour discusses prescribing requirements and the administration of drugs for medication-assisted treatment, which is associated with improved social functioning and reduced risks for death from overdoses and by contracting HIV.

These treatments – which include various formulations of methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone – need to reach more people with opioid use disorder. The interview includes her recommendations for recognizing at-risk patients and avoiding potential drug-drug interactions associated with using these drugs.

Click here to read the article at the FDA website.