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Medications for Initial and Continued Treatment of OUD

  • All medications above have been shown to reduce cravings for opioids, recurrence, and opioid overdose in large clinical trials.
  • These medications also help retain people in treatment and decrease illegal opioid use and property crime.
  • The NIH HEAL Initiative has resources to help explain what the forms of medication for OUD are and how they help.
  • Because opioid addiction is a chronic disease like heart disease or diabetes, it can require medication for many years or even for life.
  • Prematurely stopping medication for OUD can quickly lead to recurrence, overdose, and death.
TABLE 3. THREE FORMS OF FDA-APPROVED MEDICATION FOR OUD
CHARACTERISTIC METHADONE BUPRENORPHINE EXTENDED-RELEASE NALTREXONE
MECHANISM OF ACTION Full opioid agonist Partial opioid agonist Opioid antagonist
DELIVERY Oral Sublingual film, injection Injection
FREQUENCY Daily Daily oral
Monthly injection
Monthly
SETTING Licensed OTP that can provide services in a criminal justice system (CJS) setting CJS, primary care, specialty care setting (X-waiver DEA: MD with 8 hours training; PA/NP with 24 hours training) CJS, primary care, specialty care setting (no special licensing)