Posted by mbutka on April 8, 2004, at 7:10:32
In reply to Re: Buprenorphine-- bee happy, posted by androog on January 26, 2003, at 22:30:05
Briefly, the main problem with buprenorphine is it is not approved for treatment of depression, and cannot be used off-label. I am a family doctor who prescribes it and I have seen it work very well for depression related to drug abuse, but any doctor who prescribes it for anything other than addiction risks losing their license to prescribe it. Technically this is probably true for other opioids or Ultram, but in reality the DEA does not watch them closely.
Yes opioids may work, but while there are other treatments available with which we have more experience, I understand a psychiatrist's reluctance to prescribe something that has risk of addiction or overdose and with street value. That doesn't mean it shouldn't be an option, but I would limit it to someone I already know well.
poster:mbutka
thread:81414
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040407/msgs/334013.html