A medication that activates opioid receptors partially, producing enough effect to reduce withdrawal and cravings without a full opioid “high.”
In the context of addiction treatment:
Buprenorphine is the main partial agonist used in treatment (often combined with naloxone in products like Suboxone®).
What to know:
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Partial agonists have a “ceiling effect”, reducing overdose risk compared to full agonists.
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They can be prescribed in office-based settings by trained providers.
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A powerful tool in medication-based recovery for opioid use disorder.
Example:
A person with heroin use disorder transitions to buprenorphine, experiences relief from withdrawal, and can work and care for their family again.