Future Directions Incorporating Novel Medications to Reduce Repeat Overdose

• Published in: Current treatment options in psychiatry Vol. 5; no. 3; pp. 313 - 322
• Main Authors: Johns, Sade E., Bowman, Mary, Moeller, F. Gerard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.09.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Addictions; Drug dosages; Drug interactions; Drug overdose; Drug use; Drug withdrawal; Emergency medical care; Health care access; Heroin; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Methadone; Narcotics; Neurology; Pain; Prescription drugs; Psychiatry; Section Editor; Serotonin; Substance abuse treatment; Substance use disorder; Substance Use Disorders (FG Moeller; Topical Collection on Substance Use Disorders; United States > US; Virginia; Opioid use disorder; Opioid epidemic; Medication-assisted treatment; Novel treatment
• ISSN: 2196-3061; 2196-3061
• DOI: 10.1007/s40501-018-0151-3

Purpose of review The use of opioids has risen dramatically in the USA and led to an increase in opioid use disorders and deaths due to opioid-related overdoses. Current treatments for opioid use disorder are not without drawbacks, so that new treatments may be helpful in reducing opioid use. This paper reviews current pharmacologic treatments for opioid use disorder as well as emerging novel treatments that may change or improve approaches to treatment. Recent findings The current treatments for opioid use disorder are methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Of the three, methadone has been the most studied and longest treatment used. However, because of limitations with prescribing and safety concerns with methadone, buprenorphine is becoming a widely used pharmacologic treatment alternative. Naltrexone remains less commonly utilized. New treatments such as lorcaserin and medicinal cannabis have potential to make an impact in addressing the opioid epidemic; however, controlled human studies are needed to assess their full potential. Summary Current treatments for opioid use disorder are beneficial, but have the disadvantage of abuse potential, compliance concerns, and prescribing limitations. Novel pharmacologic treatments may be able to address these concerns. Future research should continue to evaluate the efficacy of novel medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder.