title: Pharmacologic treatment of heroin-dependent patients.
abstract: Patients with heroin dependence frequently present to internists and other physicians for heroin-related medical, psychiatric, and behavioral health problems and often seek help with reducing their heroin use. Thus, physicians should be familiar with the identification and diagnosis of heroin dependence in their patients and be able to initiate treatment of heroin dependence both directly and by referral. Recent research has provided much information concerning effective pharmacologically based treatment approaches for managing opioid withdrawal and helping patients to remain abstinent Methadone maintenance and newer approaches using L-alpha acetylmethadol and buprenorphine seem to be particularly effective in promoting relapse prevention. Although these treatments are currently provided in special drug treatment settings, recent and ongoing research indicates that the physician's office may be an effective alternative site for these treatments.
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine and Yale-New Haven Hospital Primary Care Center, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fiellin
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003376:Counseling; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008692:Methadyl Acetate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010819:Physician's Role; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; C020783:paracymethadol; D002047:Buprenorphine; D009271:Naltrexone; D008692:Methadyl Acetate; D008691:Methadone