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Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) & How It Can Help Your Opioid Addiction

November 1, 2022  |  Category: Addiction Treatment

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) For Opioid Use

Addictive drugs are exactly what we at Long Island Center For Recovery are trying to elevate and remove from our clients lives, but to get there sometimes drugs are exactly what’s needed on the road to success. Not addictive but constructive medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help treat the addiction itself. We will explore the Medication Assisted Treatments for opioid use and what makes it so effective.

What Is Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) For Opioid Use?

Any type of Medication Assisted Treatment aims to provide a “whole patient” approach, by using FDA approved medications in combination with recommended counseling and behavior therapies. The balance of a holistic program is key, as well as maintaining flexibility for each patient’s individual needs. Although these are FDA approved medications with proper dosing and administration, what works for some patients may not for all and those details should be at the front of your MAT program. The goal for MAT programs are the same goal shared by all addiction treatment programs; to see the patient fully recover from their state of addiction, with the following approach in mind:

• Improve the patient’s survival
• Increase retention in active treatment and recovery
• Increase patient ability to sustain employment

How Does Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Help For Opioid Users?

Opioids such as heroin and prescription pain killers are highly addictive, making it all the more difficult for recovering patients. Many require a period of detox an authorized rehab facility, as well as MAT program to ease the patient through withdrawal symptoms. For opioids specifically, the MAT program will aim to normalize the patient’s brain chemistry, blocking the feelings of euphoria brought on from consistent opioid use, and reduce physiological cravings and normalize body functions, giving patients the best chance possible to succeed at the goal of reaching their sobriety.

What Are The FDA Approved MAT Medications For Opioid Addiction Treatment?

The FDA has approved the following medications for their unique benefits is Medication Assisted Treatments for opioid use:

Buprenorphine: An opioid partial agonist which reduces the physical dependency of opioids.

Buprenorphine products approved by the FDA for MAT opioid use include the following:

• Bunavail (buprenorphine and naloxone) buccal film
• Cassipa (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual film
• Probuphine (buprenorphine) implant for subdermal administration
• Sublocade (buprenorphine extended‐release) injection for subcutaneous use
• Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual film for sublingual or buccal use, or sublingual tablet.
• Subutex (buprenorphine) sublingual tablet
• Zubsolv (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual tablets

Methadone: A long-acting full opioid agonist which reduces opioid cravings, withdrawals, and blocks the effects of opioids.

Methadone products approved by the FDA for MAT opioid use include the following:

• Dolophine (methadone hydrochloride) tablets
• Methadose (methadone hydrochloride) oral concentrate

Naltrexone: A intramuscular extended-release medication used to prevent opioid overdose by reversing the toxicity from the overdose.

Naltrexone product approved by the FDA for MAT opioid use include the following:

• Vivitrol (naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension) intramuscular

We hope you found this information helpful, and if you need any additional assistance, or know someone in need, please reach out to us at 631-728-3100, and we’d be happy to assist you or your loved ones in any way possible.

Posted in:   Addiction TreatmentDrug DetoxOpioid Rehab