» Cocaine
and Buprenorphine
A NIDA-supported study has found evidence that combining disulfiram, a
medication long used to treat alcohol addiction, with buprenorphine, can
reduce cocaine abuse among the more than 50 percent of heroin-addicted individuals
also addicted to cocaine. In the study, patients addicted to both opiates
and cocaine who were treated with a combination of disulfiram and buprenorphine
achieved 3 weeks of cocaine abstinence faster and stayed abstinent longer
than those who received only buprenorphine.
"This study provides evidence that this well-established treatment for
alcoholism, disulfiram, works with the newest opiate treatment medication,
buprenorphine, to reduce cocaine abuse in opiate addicts," says Dr. Tony
George of Yale University Medical School. " If additional research confirms
our results, disulfiram may be a useful adjunct to buprenorphine for physicians
to use with patients who also abuse cocaine," he says.
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse |
» Treatment for Heroin Addiction
There are a variety of effective treatments for heroin addiction. Treatment
tends to be more effective when abuse is identified early. The treatments
that follow vary depending on the individual. Methadone, a synthetic opiate
that blocks the effects of heroin and eliminates withdrawal symptoms, has
a record of success for people addicted to heroin. Other pharmaceutical
approaches, such as buprenorphine, and many behavioral therapies also are
used for treating heroin addiction. Buprenorphine is a recent addition to
the array of medications now available for treating addiction to heroin
and other opiates. This medication is different from methadone in that it
offers less risk of addiction and can be prescribed in the privacy of a
doctor's office. Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) is a combination drug
product formulated to minimize abuse.
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse |
» Help
With Prescription Opiates
Several options are available for treating prescription opioid addiction.
These options are drawn from research regarding the treatment of heroin
addiction, and include medications such as naltrexone, methadone, and buprenorphine,
as well as behavioral counseling.
Naltrexone is a medication that blocks opioid effects and is used to treat
opioid overdose and addiction. Methadone is a synthetic opioid that inhibits
the effect of heroin and other opioids, eliminates withdrawal symptoms, and
eases drug craving. It has been used successfully for many years to treat
heroin addiction. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved buprenorphine
in 2002, after more than a decade of research supported by NIDA. Buprenorphine
can be prescribed by certified physicians in an office setting. It is long
lasting and less likely to cause respiratory depression than other drugs.
It is also well tolerated.
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse |
