Patients who received higher doses of buprenorphine, a common medication used to alleviate opioid withdrawal and cravings, were less likely to be hospitalized and less likely to discontinue treatment, according to a new study.
The findings run counter to federal guidelines about buprenorphine dosing. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration recommends a target dose of 16 mg. But as fentanyl has come to dominate the U.S. drug supply, addiction treatment providers across the country have reported that patients seeking to reduce or stop their illicit opioid use often require significantly higher doses than in years past.