Joshua Rivera

Medication for opioid use disorder, or MOUD, refers to FDA-approved medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone used to treat opioid use disorder as part of evidence-based care.

Naltrexone and buprenorphine are both FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder, but naltrexone blocks opioid receptors and requires an opioid-free period, while buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that can treat withdrawal and cravings.

Methadone and buprenorphine are both FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder, but they differ in how they act, where they can be prescribed or dispensed, overdose risk, and how treatment is started.

Low-dose buprenorphine initiation, sometimes called microinduction, starts buprenorphine in very small amounts while a full opioid agonist may still be present, with the goal of reducing precipitated-withdrawal risk.

Buprenorphine induction is the process of starting buprenorphine for opioid use disorder and adjusting it until withdrawal and cravings are controlled without triggering precipitated withdrawal.

Precipitated withdrawal is a sudden, intense opioid withdrawal syndrome that can occur when a medication such as buprenorphine displaces full opioid agonists before enough natural withdrawal has developed.

Fentanyl withdrawal is opioid withdrawal after regular fentanyl exposure. The symptoms overlap with other opioids, but fentanyl’s potency, tissue accumulation, and unpredictable illicit supply can make timing and treatment more complex.

Counterfeit pills are fake tablets made to resemble legitimate prescription medications. They may contain fentanyl, methamphetamine, or other unexpected drugs, making dose and overdose risk highly unpredictable.

Kratom can cause tolerance, physical dependence, and withdrawal in some people, especially with frequent or high-dose use. FDA has also reported cases meeting criteria for substance use disorder.

7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, is a potent opioid-active compound related to kratom. It occurs naturally only in trace amounts in kratom leaf but is sold in concentrated products that can carry much greater risk.