Extended Release Buprenorphine for Opioid Detox Care

A recent randomized opioid addiction trial has linked extended release buprenorphine with better outcomes in early opioid recovery. The study compared the efficacy of different doses of buprenorphine for people experiencing opioid use disorder (OUD). Their findings offer hope to those with high risk OUD, with higher doses leading to improved opioid abstinence during early recovery. 

Robert Dobbins and his colleagues were particularly interested in looking at the effects of buprenorphine on high risk fentanyl users because of the increased prevalence of highly potent synthetic opioids in North America. These substances are a leading driver of opioid overdose fatalities, making medically supervised detox planning especially important.

Comparing Buprenorphine Dosages in Withdrawal Management

The trial started with an induction phase where people received two injections of buprenorphine. One group then received eight monthly injections of 300mg of buprenorphine, while the other group received injections with only 100mg of buprenorphine. 

Researchers found that the groups had a similar proportion of participants who maintained an abstinence rate of 80 percent in the following months. 

Further analysis showed that the higher dosage of buprenorphine was significantly more helpful for people who reported using fentanyl daily, more than 14 times each week, or both.

How Buprenorphine Supports Medical Detox and Withdrawal Management

The fear of opioid withdrawal is high for fentanyl users, sometimes preventing them from seeking help at all. Sandra Springer, a physician at the Yale School of Medicine, interprets the trial’s results as supporting the safety and efficacy of higher doses of buprenorphine for these patients. 

For those with opioid dependencies, medically supported detox using recovery medications is essential because it keeps them safe from uncomfortable and sometimes life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. Buprenorphine is one of the most widely used and clinically proven opioid detox medications. 

Buprenorphine works by partially binding to the same brain receptors as illicit opioids, reducing their effects and lowering overdose risk during treatment. By taking the place of illicit drugs, buprenorphine removes withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Since buprenorphine injections are slow releasing, people in recovery can go several weeks between doses. 

For anyone with OUD, medication assisted treatment using buprenorphine offers a life-saving start to recovery and has even proven effective for use in pregnant women in opioid recovery, resulting in safer outcomes for moms and babies.

Finding Extended Release Buprenorphine for Opioid Detox Care

If you’re considering medication assisted treatment as part of opioid detox or withdrawal management, extended release buprenorphine may be an option depending on your medical needs and provider availability.

Detox.com can help you find medical detox centers or clinics that offer buprenorphine based treatment. You can also call 800-996-6135(Sponsored) for immediate support and help locating medically supervised detox programs near you.