A 24-year-old man arrives at the office for opioid use disorder therapy. The patient has a 6-year history of heroin usage that he claims has cost him the majority of his funds. His employer has spoken to him about his volatile emotions and unreliable work performance, and he is now facing dismissal. The patient requests assistance, claiming, "I tried all I could to do this on my own. My parents have spent a significant amount of money on counseling. It works for a time, but I quickly return to using. They've had enough of me and refuse to see me any more. I don't want to use, yet the desire is overwhelming." The physician refers the patient to an opioid treatment program where he is started on maintenance therapy with methadone. During the next followup appointment, he reports a marked reduction in his cravings. Which of the following properties of the administered drug is most likely responsible for the improvement in this patient's condition?

Question

A 24-year-old man arrives at the office for opioid use disorder therapy. The patient has a 6-year history of heroin usage that he claims has cost him the majority of his funds. His employer has spoken to him about his volatile emotions and unreliable work performance, and he is now facing dismissal. The patient requests assistance, claiming, "I tried all I could to do this on my own. My parents have spent a significant amount of money on counseling. It works for a time, but I quickly return to using. They've had enough of me and refuse to see me any more. I don't want to use, yet the desire is overwhelming." The physician refers the patient to an opioid treatment program where he is started on maintenance therapy with methadone.  During the next followup appointment, he reports a marked reduction in his cravings.  Which of the following properties of the administered drug is most likely responsible for the improvement in this patient's condition?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Methadone is a complete mu-opioid receptor agonist used to treat opioid use disorder withdrawal and maintenance. It has a lengthy half-life, allowing it to suppress cravings and withdrawal symptoms efficiently; it also prevents the pleasurable effects of other opioids by maintaining high tolerance levels.

A 24-Year-Old Man Arrives at the Office for Opioid Use