Medications used in opioid pharmacotherapy

Methadone and buprenorphine are the two main medications used to treat opioid dependence.

According to research and clinical experience, methadone and buprenorphine are safe and effective in the treatment of opioid dependence.8 Both are listed as World Health Organization essential medicines.9

Whether somebody will begin their pharmacotherapy treatment on methadone or buprenorphine is a joint decision made by themselves and their prescribing doctor.

A third medication that can be used is Naltrexone, which blocks the effects of opioids completely – rather than acting as a substitute. It can only be prescribed to prevent relapse for someone who has become free of opioids.

Naltrexone is a less common treatment option, as remaining opioid-free can be difficult for people who have experienced long-term use.10 It is a medication that is more commonly prescribed to treat alcohol dependence.

Due to its infrequent use as an opioid treatment option in Australia, this mini bulletin does not include a discussion of naltrexone.

methadone cup