Social Listening for Patient Experiences With Stopping Extended-Release Buprenorphine: Content Analysis of Reddit Messages

There was nuanced discussion of treatment cessation using BUP-XR on Reddit, with individuals describing detailed courses of treatment and treatment experiences. Few records mentioned opioid withdrawal, and when discussed, withdrawal experiences during cessation of BUP-XR were generally described as less intense than withdrawal experiences with other drugs. These results suggest that social media, such as Reddit, can be leveraged to explore perspectives on treatment and recovery among individuals with opioid use disorder. Overall, this study provides insights into real-world patient experiences with cessation of BUP-XR and is consistent with prior case series; however, more research is needed to understand the course of opioid use disorder following cessation of BUP-XR as well as other MOUD.