Short-Acting Opioid Dose and Patient-Directed Discharge in Hospitalized Patients With Opioid Use Disorder

Among hospitalized patients with opioid use disorder, is early treatment of opioid withdrawal syndrome with short-acting opioids associated with reduced risk of early patient-directed discharge?In this single-site cohort study comprising 669 hospitalizations, there was a dose-dependent association between short-acting opioid dose and reduced hazard of patient-directed discharge within 72 hours.These findings support offering short-acting opioids alongside medications for opioid use disorder to patients experiencing opioid withdrawal to reduce risk of early patient-directed discharge.

Corresponding Author: Alexander Logan, MD, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco. 1001 Potrero Ave, Bldg 10, Ward 13, San Francisco, CA 94110 (alexander.logan@ucsf.edu).

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