Buprenorphine Microdosing the “Bernese Method”: Patient Selection in Opioid Treatment

Abstract

Buprenorphine is increasingly favored over methadone for treating opioid use disorder in Australia due to its superior safety profile. Traditional methods for transferring from methadone to buprenorphine often involve dose tapering and withdrawal, posing barriers for many patients. To address this, the buprenorphine microdosing induction method, known as “the Bernese method,” was developed to enhance access to treatment. However, evidence on its safety and efficacy is limited. This review evaluates the risks and benefits of the Bernese method to guide patient selection in a community-based nurse practitioner-led opioid agonist treatment model in regional Australia.