How does buprenorphine work in combination with naloxone?

Buprenorphine is a partial agonist at mu-opioid receptors and an antagonist at kappa-opioid receptors, which makes it effective in treating opioid use disorder. When buprenorphine is combined with naloxone, the primary intention is to minimize the potential for misuse. If the combination is taken as prescribed, the buprenorphine primarily acts to mitigate cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid dependence.

In cases where the combination is misused (for example, by injecting), naloxone can precipitate withdrawal symptoms because it acts as an opioid antagonist, blocking the effects of buprenorphine. This mechanism helps to deter misuse while ensuring that individuals who adhere to the treatment regimen can still benefit from the opioid agonist effects of buprenorphine, leading to a decreased severity of withdrawal symptoms.

The correct choice highlights the role of buprenorphine in reducing opioid withdrawal symptoms, which is a crucial aspect of its therapeutic action, particularly in opioid dependence treatment. This reduces the overall craving for opioids and helps individuals stabilize without experiencing the painful withdrawal effects often associated with opioid cessation.