Which medication is commonly used for treating opioid use disorder?

Buprenorphine is commonly used as a medication for treating opioid use disorder because it is a partial agonist at the mu-opioid receptor, which means it activates the receptor but to a lesser effect than full agonists like heroin or morphine. This quality helps to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms in individuals with opioid dependence while also lowering the risk of misuse compared to full agonists. Buprenorphine has a ceiling effect, which further contributes to decreased risk of overdose.

In contrast, diazepam is primarily used for anxiety and muscle spasms, fluoxetine is an antidepressant belonging to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class, and acamprosate is mainly utilized in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. Therefore, these options do not address the specific needs of patients with opioid use disorder, highlighting buprenorphine's unique role in this context.