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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2015, 17, 5 (pages: 27 - 42)

Opioid Agonist Maintenance Treatment: A Short Guide for Beginners

Trogu E.

Summary: Opioid dependence is a health issue of worldwide concern. There are estimated to be 15 million users, 11 million of which heroin users. Only a limited percentage of patients with drug dependence is prescribed maintenance therapy. A proportion of patients shows a limited response to treatments, in addition to intolerance or unacceptable side effects. The complexity of the disorder has led researchers to investigate other drugs capable of carrying out a substitutive function. This article focuses on the pharmacological characteristics of the clinical significance of methadone, of the isomer R-methadone, of buprenorphine (with and without naloxone), of slow-release oral morphine.