The United States approved the use of implants for the treatment of opiate dependence
An implant the size of a match called Probuphine. It is injected under the skin of the hands and releases buprenorphine - a drug that alleviates cravings for opiates and helps fight withdrawal syndrome. One-time patient implanted four capsules and medicines stock in them is enough for six months. At current rates of such amount of the drug with the implants themselves cost about $ 6,000.
To date, buprenorphine is also available in the form of tablets, and thin films dissolve in the mouth, but drug-addicted patients often miss taking the drug and use it instead of illegal drugs. Implant saves dependent people from the problem of selecting permanent and thus earned the support of many experts on addictology.
The FDA has approved the use of Probuphine people who already take more than 6 months in small or medium doses of buprenorphine orally. The agency emphasizes that the use of the implant must be accompanied by group therapy and other forms of psychosocial support.
Buprenorphine is one of the three main drugs used to treat opiate addiction, along with methadone and naltrexone. All of these drugs interact with the same brain area that opium derivatives, but differ in their mechanism of action. Methadone is a full agonist of opium (a substance which is capable of interacting with its receptor to change state, causing a biological response). It activates opioid receptors in the brain, but operates more slowly and prevents drug withdrawal symptoms without causing euphoria. Buprenorphine is a partial agonist of opium, which blocks the craving and drug "break-up", but as a rule, does not cause euphoria in people with heroin addiction. Naltrexone, in turn, is an antagonist of opium and completely blocks the opioid receptors, making them resistant to drug action.
To date, buprenorphine is also available in the form of tablets, and thin films dissolve in the mouth, but drug-addicted patients often miss taking the drug and use it instead of illegal drugs. Implant saves dependent people from the problem of selecting permanent and thus earned the support of many experts on addictology.
The FDA has approved the use of Probuphine people who already take more than 6 months in small or medium doses of buprenorphine orally. The agency emphasizes that the use of the implant must be accompanied by group therapy and other forms of psychosocial support.
Buprenorphine is one of the three main drugs used to treat opiate addiction, along with methadone and naltrexone. All of these drugs interact with the same brain area that opium derivatives, but differ in their mechanism of action. Methadone is a full agonist of opium (a substance which is capable of interacting with its receptor to change state, causing a biological response). It activates opioid receptors in the brain, but operates more slowly and prevents drug withdrawal symptoms without causing euphoria. Buprenorphine is a partial agonist of opium, which blocks the craving and drug "break-up", but as a rule, does not cause euphoria in people with heroin addiction. Naltrexone, in turn, is an antagonist of opium and completely blocks the opioid receptors, making them resistant to drug action.