Is Dr. Kornfeld a psychiatrist?
Although Dr. Kornfeld was trained in substance abuse by the Department of Psychiatry at the UCSF affiliated Veterans Hospital, his original and primary specialization was in emergency medicine and he is not a psychiatrist. However, Dr. Kornfeld does many things that a psychiatrist does and some important things that they don't do, such as treat complex cases of chronic pain and addiction. Dr. Kornfeld closely affiliates with the field of psychiatry as exemplified by his affiliate membership in the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.
What is Buprenorphine?
Buprenorphine can be used to treat opioid dependence, which includes prescription drugs such as Oxycontin and other various pain medications, as well as heroin. Buprenorphine is a partial opiate agonist. It blocks withdrawal and craving without producing strong euphoria and a narcotic high, which adds to its safety and applicability where self-medicating behavior or addiction is a risk. There is a limit or plateau to its analgesic and respiratory depressant effects, reducing the risk of overdose and discouraging patients from increasing their dose beyond a point of maximum pharmacologic effects. The antagonist properties then prevail and analgesia and other effects will be reduced. I have found, after extensive experience, that buprenorphine, once pain is stabilized, is particularly suited to a step-wise tapering schedule.
What is Suboxone and what is Subutex?
Suboxone is a form of buprenorphine that is FDA approved for the treatment of addiction. It contains a small amount of naloxone to prevent parenteral abuse. Subutex contains only buprenorphine.
Do you take insurance?
We do not take insurance. However, the office will provide you with the proper documentation to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement if you carry insurance and choose to submit.