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Review
. 2022 Sep;117(9):2540-2550.
doi: 10.1111/add.15818. Epub 2022 Feb 22.

Clinical Management of Opioid Withdrawal

Kristine E Torres-Lockhart  1 , Tiffany Y Lu  1 , Melissa B Weimer  2   3 , Melissa R Stein  1 , Chinazo O Cunningham  1
Affiliations
Review

Clinical Management of Opioid Withdrawal

Kristine E Torres-Lockhart et al. Addiction. 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Appropriate clinical management of opioid withdrawal is a crucial bridge to long-term treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), because it is a high-risk time for potential opioid overdose and relapse. We provide a narrative review of evidence-based opioid withdrawal management strategies applicable to a variety of treatment settings and geographies. The goals of opioid withdrawal management include relieving suffering associated with withdrawal, providing appropriate diagnosis and screening, engaging patients in initiation of OUD treatment, and using harm reduction strategies, all guided by a patient-centered approach to care. In addition, we discuss complex cases, relapse prevention strategies, and new developments in opioid withdrawal management.

Keywords: Harm reduction, medications for opioid use disorder, MOUD, patient-centered, opiates, opioids, opioid withdrawal, OUD.

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References

REFERENCES

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