Australian Prescriber Podcast

E195 - Medicines used in the treatment of opioid dependence

Australian Prescriber Podcast

Show Notes

Justin Coleman speaks with Hester Wilson, Chief Addiction Medicine Specialist for NSW, and pharmacist Jillian Kanck about the medicines used in the treatment of opioid dependence. They explain how opioid dependence is diagnosed and discuss the advantages of long-acting buprenorphine, as well as the place of sublingual buprenorphine and methadone in treatment. Read the full article by Hester and Jillian in Australian Prescriber.

More from Australian Prescriber Podcast

Oct 19, 2026

Laura Beaton talks to ophthalmologist Alp Atik about his paper on the management of glaucoma in adults. They discuss the types of glaucoma, who should be screened and when, and drug and surgical treatment options. Read the full article in Australian Prescriber.

Oct 5, 2026

Justin Coleman chats with sexual health specialist Manoji Gunathilake about her paper on syphilis. They discuss the resurgence of syphilis in Australia, the importance of testing and priority populations, and interpretation of laboratory results. Manoji also explains the different stages of the disease and how these are managed. Read the full article in Australian Prescriber.

Sep 21, 2026

Laura Beaton speaks with cardiologist James Marangou about his paper summarising key updates from the Australian Guideline for the Prevention, Diagnosis and Management of Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease. James outlines how to identify high-risk patients, the latest antibiotic treatment advice for Strep A skin and throat infections, and which patients can be managed in community. Read the full article in Australian Prescriber.

Sep 7, 2026

Jo Cheah talks to dermatologist Belinda Welsh about her article on acne vulgaris. Belinda discusses the chronic inflammatory nature of acne and the substantial psychosocial burden if it is inadequately untreated. She discusses the different treatments available and shares practical tips for daily skincare routines and ensuring long term adherence to treatment. Read the full article in Australian Prescriber.

Aug 24, 2026

Dhineli Perera chats with dentist Smitha Sukumar about the use of antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures. They discuss the updated recommendations in Therapeutic Guidelines: Oral and Dental, including when antibiotic prophylaxis is indicated and considerations for immunocompromised patients. Read the full article in Australian Prescriber.

See all episodes →