Patients who are Dependent on Heroin

Heroin is a short-acting opioid. Patients who are dependent on heroin should abstain from use for 4-24 hours before the first dose of buprenorphine in order to prevent precipitated withdrawal.

Patients who are dependent on heroin (especially intravenous heroin users) often have other associated health issues.

Screen and/or examine heroin-dependent patients for these conditions:

  • HIV/AIDS
  • Hepatitis B and C
  • Other infectious diseases, e.g. tuberculosis and STDs
  • Other drug use and/or alcohol abuse
  • Tobacco dependence
  • Gingivitis
  • Bacterial infections
  • Skin abscesses
  • Other skin/tissue infections -- ulceration, cellulitis, abscesses, endocarditis, and tetanus
  • Respiratory complications -- non-cardiac pulmonary edema and narcotic lung (a combination of edema and congestion that results from heroin overdose).
  • Comorbid psychiatric disorders


Related Resources: 
Heroin Abuse and Addiction
Description: 
This research report from NIDA discusses the scope of heroin use in the US, immediate and long term effects of heroin use, the medical complications of heroin use, how heroin abuse affects pregnant women, and more. It also discusses treatments for heroin addiction, including buprenorphine.
Source: 
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
4.333335
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Primary Care Office-Based Buprenorphine Treatment: Comparison of Heroin and Prescription Opioid Dependent Patients.
Description: 
This study compared the buprenorphine treatment outcomes for patients who were dependent on prescription opioids versus patients who were dependent on heroin. Based on a total of 200 patients, the study found that patients dependent on prescription opioids responded better to buprenorphine treatment.
Source: 
Journal of General Internal Medicine
4.666665
Your rating: None Average: 4.7 (3 votes)
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American Psychiatric Association Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Patients with Substance Use Disorders
Description: 
This website offers comprehensive guidelines for treating patients who have substance use disorders.
Source: 
American Psychiatric Association (APA), 2006
4.25
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Heroin: Abuse and Addiction (en Español)
Description: 
This research report from NIDA - written in Spanish - discusses the scope of heroin use in the US, immediate and long term effects of heroin use, the medical complications of heroin use, how heroin abuse affects pregnant women, and more. It also discusses treatments for heroin addiction, including buprenorphine.
Source: 
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
4
Your rating: None Average: 4 (2 votes)
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NIDA InfoFacts: Heroin (en Español)
Description: 
This document from NIDA discusses how heroin is abused, how it affects the brain, and adverse affects it has on health. Treatment options are also discussed, with information on methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.
Source: 
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
4.333335
Your rating: None Average: 4.3 (3 votes)
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