JOURNAL ARTICLE

Considerations and limitations of buprenorphine prescribing for opioid use disorder in the intensive care unit setting: A narrative review.

  • Published In: American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 2024, v. 81, n. 6. P. 171 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Erstad, Brian L; Glenn, Melody J 3 of 3

Abstract

This article focuses on considerations for prescribing buprenorphine, a partial mu-opioid receptor agonist, for opioid use disorder (OUD) in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting amid limited evidence. It highlights the complexity of buprenorphine’s pharmacology, multiple formulations with varying bioavailability, and the absence of validated tools to diagnose OUD or assess withdrawal severity in critically ill patients. The review discusses dosing strategies including traditional, low-dose induction, and cross-tapering approaches, emphasizing challenges related to administration routes, pain management, and transitions to outpatient care. It underscores the importance of involving addiction and pain specialists and calls for further research to optimize buprenorphine use in ICU patients.

Additional Information

  • Source:American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. 2024/03, Vol. 81, Issue 6, p171
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Health and Medicine
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:1079-2082
  • DOI:10.1093/ajhp/zxad289
  • Accession Number:175938044
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Looking to go deeper into this topic? Look for more articles on EBSCOhost.