2023
Low-dose Initiation of Buprenorphine in Hospitalized Patients Using Buccal Buprenorphine: A Case Series
Adams K, Cohen S, Guerra M, Weimer M. Low-dose Initiation of Buprenorphine in Hospitalized Patients Using Buccal Buprenorphine: A Case Series. Journal Of Addiction Medicine 2023, 17: 474-476. PMID: 37579114, DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000001146.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderBuprenorphine initiationSublingual buprenorphineChronic painBuccal buprenorphineCase seriesClinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) scoresAddiction medicine serviceLow dose initiationSevere opioid withdrawalHistory of heroinOutpatient opioidsOpioid withdrawalAcute painFentanyl useHospitalized patientsMedian lengthPrescription refillsMedian numberModerate withdrawalInitiation strategiesBuprenorphineMedicine servicePatientsUse disorders
2020
Hospital-based Buprenorphine Micro-dose Initiation
Weimer MB, Guerra M, Morrow G, Adams K. Hospital-based Buprenorphine Micro-dose Initiation. Journal Of Addiction Medicine 2020, 15: 255-257. PMID: 32960820, DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000000745.Peer-Reviewed Case Reports and Technical Notes
2016
A Chronic Opioid Therapy Dose Reduction Policy in Primary Care
Weimer MB, Hartung DM, Ahmed S, Nicolaidis C. A Chronic Opioid Therapy Dose Reduction Policy in Primary Care. Substance Use & Addiction Journal 2016, 37: 141-147. PMID: 26685018, DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2015.1129526.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHigh-dose opioidsChronic opioid therapyOpioid therapyOpioid doseDose taperAcademic primary care clinicHigh-dose opioid therapyHigher opioid doseIntervention of educationOpioid dose reductionTotal opioid doseRetrospective cohort studyCharacteristics of patientsPrimary care clinicsOpioid use disorderMedication-assisted treatmentAverage daily doseOnly significant associationMorphine equivalentsOpioid dosesCohort studyPatient characteristicsDaily doseCare clinicsChronic painCorrelates of prescription opioid therapy in Veterans with chronic pain and history of substance use disorder
Lovejoy TI, Dobscha SK, Turk DC, Weimer MB, Morasco BJ. Correlates of prescription opioid therapy in Veterans with chronic pain and history of substance use disorder. The Journal Of Rehabilitation Research And Development 2016, 53: 25-36. PMID: 27005461, DOI: 10.1682/jrrd.2014.10.0230.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLong-term opioid therapyPrescription opioid therapySubstance use disordersOpioid therapyChronic painSUD historyPain diagnosisUse disordersChronic noncancer painVeterans Affairs electronic medical recordsPain-related functioningLow chronic painElectronic medical recordsNoncancer painOpioid medicationsOpioid prescriptionsClinical characteristicsPain severityPain interferencePharmacy dataMedical recordsPainPsychosocial questionnairesPatientsTherapy
2015
(432) Predictors of prescription opioid therapy in patients with chronic pain and a history of substance use disorder
Lovejoy T, Dobscha S, Turk D, Weimer M, Morasco B. (432) Predictors of prescription opioid therapy in patients with chronic pain and a history of substance use disorder. Journal Of Pain 2015, 16: s84. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2015.01.351.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2014
Methadone Overdose and Cardiac Arrhythmia Potential: Findings From a Review of the Evidence for an American Pain Society and College on Problems of Drug Dependence Clinical Practice Guideline
Chou R, Weimer MB, Dana T. Methadone Overdose and Cardiac Arrhythmia Potential: Findings From a Review of the Evidence for an American Pain Society and College on Problems of Drug Dependence Clinical Practice Guideline. Journal Of Pain 2014, 15: 338-365. PMID: 24685459, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2014.01.495.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsAmerican Pain SocietyMethadone useChronic painPain SocietyClinical guidelinesArrhythmia potentialDependence Clinical Practice GuidelineMethadone-related deathsQTc interval prolongationUse of methadoneClinical practice guidelinesCardiac arrhythmia riskMarked increaseNumber of deathsMethadone safetyMortality benefitCardiac riskInterval prolongationOpioid dependenceQTc intervalAdverse outcomesCochrane LibraryMethadone overdoseCase reportPsychiatric admissions
2013
Sex Differences in the Medical Care of VA Patients with Chronic Non‐Cancer Pain
Weimer MB, Macey TA, Nicolaidis C, Dobscha SK, Duckart JP, Morasco BJ. Sex Differences in the Medical Care of VA Patients with Chronic Non‐Cancer Pain. Pain Medicine 2013, 14: 1839-1847. PMID: 23802846, PMCID: PMC3866355, DOI: 10.1111/pme.12177.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChronic opioid therapyPain-related diagnosesPrimary care utilizationChronic painOpioid therapyCare utilizationEmergency departmentGreater oddsSevere chronic non-cancer painFemale veteransChronic non-cancer painSex differencesNon-cancer painRetrospective cohort studyInflammatory bowel diseasePhysical therapy referralsLow back painVeterans Affairs systemMultivariate logistic regressionPain-related complaintsVA administrative dataMental health diagnosesSubstance use disordersMore pain conditionsMedical comorbiditiesPatterns of care and side effects for patients prescribed methadone for treatment of chronic pain.
Macey TA, Weimer MB, Grimaldi EM, Dobscha SK, Morasco BJ. Patterns of care and side effects for patients prescribed methadone for treatment of chronic pain. Journal Of Opioid Management 2013, 9: 325-33. PMID: 24353045, PMCID: PMC4001870, DOI: 10.5055/jom.2013.0175.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChronic painSide effectsSingle VA medical centerInitiation of methadoneInsufficient pain reliefCardiac side effectsChronic pain patientsHealth service utilizationPatterns of careMedical record dataVA Medical CenterNew initiationOpioid initiationPain reliefPain patientsQTc prolongationSustained releaseService utilizationClinical dataClinical significanceMedical CenterCalendar year 2008PatientsClinical information systemsMethadone