Opioid agonist therapy

Opioid agonist therapy (OAT) is a treatment in which prescribed opioid agonists are given to patients who live with Opioid use disorder (OUD).[1] In the case of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), methadone is used to treat dependence on heroin or other opioids, and is administered on an ongoing basis.[2]

The benefits of this treatment include a more manageable withdrawal experience, cognitive improvement, and lower HIV transmission.[3] The length of OAT varies from one individual to another based on their physiology, environmental surroundings, and quality of life.[3]

The term medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) is used to describe medication including methadone and buprenorphine, which are used to treat patients with OUD.[4][5]

  1. ^ "Opioid Agonist Therapy" (PDF). Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). 2016. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  2. ^ "Clinical guidelines and procedures for the use of methadone in the maintenance treatment of opioid dependence", Pharmacotherapies for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, CRC Press, pp. 370–405, 2009-03-25, doi:10.3109/9780203414088-14, ISBN 978-0-429-23119-3, retrieved 2023-04-10
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference CAMH_2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Miele K, Kim SY, Jones R, Rembert JH, Wachman EM, Shrestha H, Henninger ML, Kimes TM, Schneider PD, Sivaloganathan V, Sward KA, Deshmukh VG, Sanjuan PM, Maxwell JR, Seligman NS, Caveglia S, Louis JM, Wright T, Bennett CC, Green C, George N, Gosdin L, Tran EL, Meaney-Delman D, Gilboa SM (2023). "Medication for Opioid Use Disorder During Pregnancy — Maternal and Infant Network to Understand Outcomes Associated with Use of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder During Pregnancy (MAT-LINK), 2014–2021". Surveillance Summaries. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 72 (3): 1–14. doi:10.15585/mmwr.ss7203a1. ISSN 1546-0738. PMC 10154076. PMID 37130060.
  5. ^ Archibald, Luke (20 December 2022). "Telemedicine for opioid addiction saves lives. Let's make sure it continues". Washington, D.C. (United States): AAMC. Retrieved 18 January 2024.