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The opioid receptor partial agonist buprenorphine, as sublingual monotherapy or in combination with the opioid antagonist naloxone (Suboxone), attenuates narcotic withdrawal and craving and blocks euphoria from concurrent narcotics. Still, buprenorphine is itself subject to misuse and diversion — the sublingual form prevents “cheeking” but not diversion by patients who take the medication home. These researchers examined whether a novel, non-FDA-approved, weekly injectable form of buprenorphine could eliminate these problems.
The manufacturer-sponsored, 3-week, phase II study enrolled otherwise healthy patients with moderate-to-severe opioid use disorder and physical dependence. After 4 to 7 days of treatment with oral morphine (allowing was…