Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Tara Gomes, Tonya J. Campbell, Sophie A. Kitchen, Ria Garg, Nikki Bozinoff, Siyu Men, Mina Tadrous, Charlotte Munro, Tony Antoniou, Dan Werb, Jennifer Wyman
Summary: A retrospective cohort study in Ontario, Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic found that providing increased take-home doses of opioid agonist therapy was associated with lower risks of treatment interruption and discontinuation. The study did not show a significant increase in opioid-related overdoses over 6 months of follow-up.
JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Michael Soyka
Summary: Methadone and buprenorphine are commonly used medications in opioid maintenance treatment, with no established algorithm for transitioning between them. Transfer is recommended for patients on low doses of methadone, but there are reports suggesting transition from higher doses may be possible. Various dosing strategies have been proposed to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and facilitate transfer.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Substance Abuse
M. Eugenia Socias, Evan Wood, Bernard Le Foll, Ron Lim, Jin Cheol Choi, Wing Yin Mok, Julie Bruneau, Juergen Rehm, T. Cameron Wild, Nikki Bozinoff, Ahmed Hassan, Didier Jutras-Aswad
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of baseline fentanyl exposure on medication treatment engagement and discontinuation among individuals with prescription-type opioid use disorder. The results showed that both buprenorphine/naloxone and methadone may be appropriate treatment options regardless of fentanyl exposure. Other characteristics of fentanyl-exposed individuals appear to be driving the association with poorer treatment outcomes.
Article
Anesthesiology
Sarah A. Eidbo, Amalie K. Kropp Lopez, Joseph D. Hagedorn, Varkey Mathew, Daniel E. Kaufman, Stephanie D. Nichols, Kenneth L. McCall, Brian J. Piper
Summary: This study analyzed the trends in opioid distribution by hospitals in the United States and found a decrease in opioid use since 2012. While buprenorphine has increased in hospital use, other opioids have shown a decline. There was a significant difference in opioid use between states in 2019.
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Zeynab Hemmati, Aldo Alberto Conti, Alex Baldacchino
Summary: Opioid use disorder is a global issue, and its effects on women of childbearing age and pregnant women are of increasing concern. This systematic review and meta-analysis found no causal relationship between in utero opioid exposure and future eye abnormalities, but highlighted the need for further research in this area.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Anesthesiology
Ryu Komatsu, Michael Nash, Katherin A. Peperzak, Taylor M. Ziga, Emily M. Dinges, Carlos Delgado, Jiang Wu, Gregory W. Terman, Rebecca C. Dale
Summary: This study found that preoperative use of buprenorphine was associated with lower postoperative opioid dose requirements and a reduction in acute pain burden compared to methadone. However, there were limitations in this study, including exclusion of some patients and sample size issues.
CLINICAL JOURNAL OF PAIN
(2022)
Review
Psychiatry
Michael Soyka, Andreas G. Franke
Summary: Oral methadone or sublingual buprenorphine are first-line medications for pharmacotherapy of opioid use disorders, and three long-acting buprenorphine depot or implant formulations are currently available for the treatment of OUDs.
WORLD JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Substance Abuse
Shanna Farrell MacDonald, Cayley Russell, Tara Beauchamp, Dena Derkzen, Benedikt Fischer
Summary: This study examines the characteristics and outcomes of men in Canadian federal correctional institutions, finding that individuals switching OAT modalities are a more complex group needing additional supports, and a high proportion of individuals in the OAT groups have their release revoked, mostly due to their substance use.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Victor Mocanu, Nikki Bozinoff, Evan Wood, Didier Jutras-Aswad, Bernard Le Foll, Ron Lim, Jin Cheol Choi, Wing Yin Mok, M. Eugenia Socias
Summary: This study examined the impact of initial randomized opioid agonist therapy (OAT) allocation on subsequent treatment switching among individuals with prescription-type opioid use disorder (POUD). The findings showed that individuals assigned to buprenorphine/naloxone were more likely to switch treatments compared to those assigned to methadone.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Courtney Townsel, Jonathan M. Covault, Naveed Hussain, Cheryl Oncken, Christopher Nold, Winston A. Campbell
Summary: The study found that the severity of severe neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) may be associated with placental aromatase mRNA expression levels and umbilical cord drug and metabolite levels. Further investigation on placental aromatase in methadone- and buprenorphine-exposed pregnancies is warranted.
JOURNAL OF MATERNAL-FETAL & NEONATAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Editorial Material
Health Care Sciences & Services
Parisa Mortaji, Dale Terasaki, Jaime Moo-Young
Summary: Opioid use disorder has impacted many lives in the US, with medications like buprenorphine shown to decrease mortality in patients. This case study of a 32-year-old woman undergoing multiple surgeries highlights the use of buprenorphine/naloxone, methadone, and a novel microdosing approach. The report aims to provide hospital-based providers with insights on managing peri-operative patients on medications for opioid use disorder.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Substance Abuse
Nicholas Lintzeris, Baher Mankabady, Carlos Rojas-Fernandez, Halle Amick
Summary: This article reviewed the transfer strategies from methadone to sublingual buprenorphine used in clinical trials and observational studies. The results showed that there is a wide variety of transfer protocols, but most studies reported successful rates of transfer and infrequent occurrence of precipitated withdrawal.
JOURNAL OF ADDICTION MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Kelly E. Dunn, H. Elizabeth Bird, Cecilia L. Bergeria, Orrin D. Ware, Eric C. Strain, Andrew S. Huhn
Summary: In this study, 106 people with opioid use disorder were given naloxone, and it was found that within 60 minutes, most participants experienced severe withdrawal symptoms such as tearing, yawning, and runny nose. The study also identified that an increase of 10 points on the SOWS scale and 6 points on the COWS scale within this timeframe were clinically significant indicators of worsened withdrawal symptoms.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Samy J. Galvez, Frederick L. Altice, Anna Meteliuk, Roman Ivasiy, Eteri Machavariani, Scott O. Farnum, Tetiana Fomenko, Zahedul Islam, Lynn M. Madden
Summary: During the COVID-19 pandemic, OAT patients in Ukraine experienced high levels of perceived stress, highlighting the need for additional psychosocial support for certain subgroups.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yun Han Chen, Senthilkumar Sadhasivam, Spencer DeMedal, Mihaela Visoiu
Summary: This article reviews the use of short- and long-acting opioids in managing perioperative pain in children and compares their efficacy and adverse effects. Short-acting opioids are commonly used in pediatric surgical pain management, but long-acting opioids have potential advantages. The article summarizes the evidence of commonly used short and long-acting opioids for perioperative pain control in children.
EXPERT REVIEW OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Justin Berk, Kendall M. Rogers, Deanna J. Wilson, Ashish Thakrar, Leonard Feldman
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL MEDICINE
(2020)
Letter
Substance Abuse
Thomas D. Brothers, Dan Lewer, Ashish P. Thakrar
Article
Substance Abuse
Ashish P. Thakrar, Lindsay Jablonski, Jessica Ratner, Darius A. Rastegar
Summary: We present a novel approach to micro-dosing buprenorphine using intravenous administration, which has shown successful transition and analgesic effects for patients with opioid use disorder or postoperative opioid analgesia requirements.
JOURNAL OF ADDICTION MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ashish P. Thakrar, David Furfaro, Sara Keller, Ryan Graddy, Megan Buresh, Leonard Feldman
Summary: This study aimed to assess whether clinician education and team intervention could increase the rate of starting patients with opioid use disorder on buprenorphine maintenance. Results showed a significant increase in the rate of starting buprenorphine maintenance, but no change in treatment engagement after discharge. Internal medicine residents also demonstrated improved knowledge and comfort with buprenorphine.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Substance Abuse
Neil B. Varshneya, Ashish P. Thakrar, J. Gregory Hobelmann, Kelly E. Dunn, Andrew S. Huhn
Summary: This study evaluated the incidence of buprenorphine-precipitated withdrawal in individuals who use fentanyl. The results showed that taking buprenorphine within 24 hours or 24 to 48 hours after fentanyl use significantly increased the odds of severe withdrawal symptoms. In contrast, patients taking methadone did not report significantly higher rates of withdrawal after fentanyl use.
JOURNAL OF ADDICTION MEDICINE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Ashish P. Thakrar
JAMA INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Ashish P. Thakrar, G. Caleb Alexander, Brendan Saloner
Letter
Substance Abuse
Ashish P. Thakrar, Robert A. Kleinman
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Jarratt D. Pytell, Geetanjali Chander, Ashish P. Thakrar, S. Michelle Ogunwole, Emma E. McGinty
Summary: The survivorship model of OUD improved overall feelings compared to the chronic disease model, but no significant difference was observed in other measures of public stigma or support for policies. There was no effect modification from the vignette individual's race or gender. Further refinement and testing of this novel, survivorship model of OUD could improve public opinions.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
Ashish P. Thakrar, Sophia Faude, Jeanmarie Perrone, Michael C. Milone, Margaret Lowenstein, Christopher K. Snider, Anthony Spadaro, M. Kit Delgado, Lewis S. Nelson, Austin S. Kilaru
Summary: This study aimed to determine whether urine fentanyl concentration is associated with the severity of opioid withdrawal. The findings suggest that lower urine fentanyl concentration is associated with more severe opioid withdrawal.
JOURNAL OF ADDICTION MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Timothy D. Becker, Evan L. Eschliman, Ashish P. Thakrar, Lawrence H. Yang
Summary: Stigma toward people using opioid medication is harmful, but emerging MOUD service models have the potential to reduce this stigma and empower patients to pursue their life goals through community outreach, clinical evaluation and induction of MOUD, and outpatient care.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Emergency Medicine
Anthony Spadaro, Sophia Faude, Jeanmarie Perrone, Ashish P. P. Thakrar, Margaret Lowenstein, M. Kit Delgado, Austin S. S. Kilaru
Summary: This study describes adverse outcomes after buprenorphine administration in the emergency department and hospital, and assesses whether they meet the criteria for withdrawal syndrome.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS OPEN
(2023)
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Ashish P. Thakrar, Margaret Lowenstein, S. Ryan Greysen, M. Kit Delgado
Summary: This study investigates the trends of admissions related to opioids from 2016 to 2020, focusing on admissions involving opioid use disorder and injection-related infections.
JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2023)