Very welcome! I'm curious to see where things go. I looked at the list of signers on to the Lancet letter and there's a lot of Heavy Hitters in the academc-research world. Even if this trial stands as is, the FDA has still excoriated Alkermes for downplaying Vivitrol's overdose risk, which, to me, confirms the underlying argument that there is indeed an overdose risk. Anyways... more to come, probs.
Good piece Zach and not surprised by the meta analysis. Many of us have been skeptical of the advertised positive results of Vivitrol, due mostly from what we hear based on client experiences/ reports. Def disappointing Re Lancets reaction. Sigh. Btw a point for your information: AA has no issue with medications though (too) many members seem uninformed about their own literature on the subject. This has been true for as far back as my beginnings (1988) sadly. I try to educate on this subject as often as possible. If you don’t know about the pamphlet on AA and medications, I’d encourage you to check it out. While it doesn’t mention MOUD specifically, it does say this right off: “No A.A. member should “play doctor”; all medical advice and treatment should come from a qualified physician.” You can find the complete updated pamphlet on the AA.org website.
I enjoyed this post but would have liked clarification or acknowledgement that suboxone has naloxone in it. And for the reader, what that means . If I’m right - subutex is just buprenorphine (?)
Yeah, Subutex is solo buprenoprhine. Figured in this post about the RCT buprenorphine/naloxone vs just buprenorphine is a distinction without a real difference. Taken orally the naloxone is inactive. If ppl do struggle w/ naloxone for whatever reason, then docs might try Subutex. Not sure if that was a thing in this trial or not.
Thank you for this great analysis of the debate.
Very welcome! I'm curious to see where things go. I looked at the list of signers on to the Lancet letter and there's a lot of Heavy Hitters in the academc-research world. Even if this trial stands as is, the FDA has still excoriated Alkermes for downplaying Vivitrol's overdose risk, which, to me, confirms the underlying argument that there is indeed an overdose risk. Anyways... more to come, probs.
This is so important and Alkermes should be held accountable.
Good piece Zach and not surprised by the meta analysis. Many of us have been skeptical of the advertised positive results of Vivitrol, due mostly from what we hear based on client experiences/ reports. Def disappointing Re Lancets reaction. Sigh. Btw a point for your information: AA has no issue with medications though (too) many members seem uninformed about their own literature on the subject. This has been true for as far back as my beginnings (1988) sadly. I try to educate on this subject as often as possible. If you don’t know about the pamphlet on AA and medications, I’d encourage you to check it out. While it doesn’t mention MOUD specifically, it does say this right off: “No A.A. member should “play doctor”; all medical advice and treatment should come from a qualified physician.” You can find the complete updated pamphlet on the AA.org website.
Cheers!
DD
I enjoyed this post but would have liked clarification or acknowledgement that suboxone has naloxone in it. And for the reader, what that means . If I’m right - subutex is just buprenorphine (?)
Yeah, Subutex is solo buprenoprhine. Figured in this post about the RCT buprenorphine/naloxone vs just buprenorphine is a distinction without a real difference. Taken orally the naloxone is inactive. If ppl do struggle w/ naloxone for whatever reason, then docs might try Subutex. Not sure if that was a thing in this trial or not.