Background
Not enough evidence exists to compare buprenorphine–naloxone with extended-release naltrexone for treating opioid use disorder.
Objective
To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of buprenorphine–naloxone versus extended-release naltrexone.
Target Population
Adults with opioid use disorder.
Outcome Measures
Incremental costs combined with incremental quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and incremental time abstinent from opioids.
Conclusion
Buprenorphine–naloxone is preferred to extended-release naltrexone as first-line treatment when both options are clinically appropriate and patients require detoxification before initiating extended-release naltrexone.
Primary Funding Source
National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health.
Source: Annals.org – December 18, 2018
