The Curbsiders Internal Medicine Podcast

#498 Opioid Withdrawal with Dr. Ashish Thakrar

Sep 15, 2025

1:13:38

Episode Description

Grow your management tools for opioid withdrawal in the hospital. Investigate how to decide between methadone and buprenorphine, additional medications to manage symptoms and how and when to use short-acting opioids for management of withdrawal. We’re joined by Ashish Thakrar, MD at the University of Pennsylvania.

Claim CME for this episode at curbsiders.vcuhealth.org!
By listening to this episode and completing CME, this can be used to count towards the new DEA 8-hr requirement on substance use disorders education.

Episodes | Subscribe | Spotify | iTunes | CurbsidersAddictionMed@gmail.com | CME!

Show Segments

Intro, disclaimer, guest bio
Guest one-liner
Case from Kashlak; Definitions
Symptoms of opioid withdrawal
Medications for the management of opioid withdrawal
Buprenorphine precipitated withdrawal
Starting Buprenorphine: Experiences and Strategies
Titrating Methadone: Dosage and Adjuncts
Adjunctive short-acting opioids
Emerging Trends in Drug Supply: Xylazine and Medetomidine
Outro

Credits

Producer, Show Notes: Zina Huxley-Reicher
Infographics: Zina Huxley-Reicher MD and Zoya Surani
Hosts: Carolyn Chan, MD MHS, Zina Huxley-Reicher MD, Shawn Cohen, MD
Reviewer: Payel Jhoom Roy, MD, MSc
Showrunner: Carolyn Chan, MD, MHS
Technical Production: PodPaste
Guest: Ashish Thakrar, MD MHSP

Sponsor: Mint Mobile

Shop plans at MINTMOBILE.com/CURB

Sponsor: Freed

Use code: CURB50 to get $50 off your first month when you subscribe!

Sponsor: FIGS

We’ve teamed up with FIGS, and now Curbsiders listeners can get 15% off. Just go to WearFIGS.com and use code FIGSRX.