• Jennifer Rozylo, Keren Mitchell, Mohammadali Nikoo, S Elise Durante, Skye P Barbic, Daniel Lin, Steve Mathias, and Pouya Azar.
• University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
• Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2020 Jan 15; 15 (1): 2.

BackgroundThe requirement for moderate withdrawal prior to initiation can be a barrier to buprenorphine/naloxone induction.Case PresentationWe aimed to use a microdosing regimen to initiate regular dosing of buprenorphine/naloxone in a high-risk patient with a history of failed initiations due, in part, to withdrawal symptoms. Using an assertive outreach model and a buprenorphine/naloxone microdosing schedule, we initiated treatment of an individual's opioid use disorder. There was a successful buprenorphine/naloxone microdosing induction as the team reached a therapeutic dose of buprenorphine/naloxone. Including the induction period, the medication was used consistently for 4 weeks.ConclusionsA microdosing schedule can be used to induce a patient onto buprenorphine/naloxone with no apparent withdrawal; gradually reducing illicit substance use. This case report builds on previous literature, highlighting ways to minimize barriers to induction of buprenorphine/naloxone, using a microdosing schedule and assertive outreach. Given the safety profile of buprenorphine and its potential to be a lifesaving intervention, a larger study of microdosing is indicated.

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