The new oral methadone and buprenorphine recommendations: what are the key points?

Presenter: Dr Mike Kelleher, Consultant Addictions Psychiatrist and Clinical Lead for Lambeth Addictions, National Clinical Advisor Addiction and Inclusion Division, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities Description

Since the publication of the suite of NICE guidelines focusing on oral substitute therapy (OST) and the 2017 Drug misuse and dependence: UK guidelines on clinical management (the Orange Book), there have been changes in evidence, medicine formulations and the arrival of potent illicit synthetic opioids in the UK. This led to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) convening a clinical expert group to consider the evidence and clinical experience to advise DHSC on recommendations for England to supplement the Orange Book. This guidance on the choice between, and use of, methadone and buprenorphine in OST is the first output of that work. Dr Mike Kelleher, Lead author of the new recommendations will take us through the key points.