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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Jul 4.
Published in final edited form as: Drugs. 2012 Jan 22;72(2):217–228. doi: 10.2165/11597520-000000000-00000

Table II.

Increasingly available options for maintenance therapy for opioid dependence

Medication Action Usual effective dose Frequency Adverse effects
Methadone Opioid agonist 20–100mg orally Daily Constipation, respiratory depression, dizziness, sedation, diaphoresis
Buprenorphine Partial opioid agonist 8–24mg sublingually Daily to thrice weekly Constipation, headache
Buprenorphine/ naloxone Partial opioid agonist/opioid antagonist 8–24mg sublingually Daily to thrice weekly Constipation, headache; not to be used in pregnant patients
Naltrexone Opioid antagonist 50–100mg orally Daily Hepatitis, hepatic failure, concomitant use of opioid; not to be used in pregnant patients