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Patient Guide Hub

Buprenorphine Induction Approaches

Different patients need different ways to start buprenorphine treatment. Below are the patient handouts for the induction approaches MyStreetHealth uses.

These handouts are only for patients who have already been prescribed a specific induction plan by a MyStreetHealth provider. Open the handout that matches the protocol your provider gave you. If you are not sure which one applies to you, contact your care team before starting anything.

Approach 1

Wait-and-Watch Induction

≥12-hour-wait approach. You wait until you are in clear withdrawal (SOWS ≥17), then take incremental doses spaced through the day.

Often used for: patients transitioning from heroin, prescription opioids, or methadone. Generally not used for fentanyl, kratom, or 7-OH.

Open handout →
Approach 2

Microinduction (Widerman Protocol)

Low-dose induction. You do not have to wait through significant withdrawal first. You take very small (0.5 mg) doses every 2 hours, building up gradually over the first day.

Often used for: patients transitioning from fentanyl, methadone, kratom, or 7-OH — and for anyone who does not want to wait through clear withdrawal symptoms before starting. Adapted from the protocol of Dr. Jan Widerman (with credit to Dr. Ashish Thakrar).

Open handout →
Approach 3 — coming soon

Additional protocol

A third induction approach will be added here soon.

Check back, or ask your MyStreetHealth provider directly.

Coming soon
Don't see a protocol that matches what your provider told you? Contact your MyStreetHealth care team. The handout you need may not be on the website yet, or there may be a personalized plan they will send you separately. Do not start an induction based on a handout that does not match what was prescribed.

Further Reading

Selected research and clinical literature on kratom, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), and buprenorphine treatment.

🩺 Your MyStreetHealth Care Team Is With You Telehealth visits available. Reach out before starting any induction.
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