Cerebral OUD Review – Does It Work For Opioid Use Disorder?

For a more in-depth review of Bicycle Health and Ophelia‘s online OUD treatment platforms, check out our reviews!

Our experience with Cerebral OUD

Taking the free emotional assessment  

Something we loved about the platform was its simplicity on the sign-up page. There are a few steps to follow on the Cerebral platform to receive a plan curated for your OUD condition.

Source: Cerebral

The initial free emotional assessment doesn’t take you right to the MAT plan, but not to fret. After the assessment, you’ll have your selection of an initial care team that will set up your one-hour intake appointment with your prescriber. During this, you’ll be evaluated for opioid use, as well as any other conditions.

If the MAT plan is deemed an appropriate treatment, you will then meet with their prescriber on a weekly basis for the next 3-5 weeks and eventually monthly for 15 minutes.

1. Register an account on the platform 

The requirements to register are your email address, your phone number, and a secure password. After this, you’ll need to complete your details, including your full name, date of birth, and zip code. 

2. Select the condition that describes you

Next, you’re provided with several conditions, from which you’re to select which one best describes your condition. 

3. Take an online assessment.

Upon approval, you will have access to a free emotional assessment, where Cerebral will ask clinically tested questions to get an idea of your emotional well-being. 

The questions are very similar to those that you’d find in a Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item depression scale (PHQ-9) or 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7). 

4. Select a plan from the provided options. 

After filling out all the questions, the platform will suggest five plans that would work best for your condition. These are; Medication-Assisted Treatment, a Medication and Care Counseling plan where you meet once a month, a Medication and Therapy plan where you meet up to four times a month, a Medication and Coaching plan where you meet up to four times a month, and a therapy plan where you meet up to four times a month. 

That’s it. 

Source: Cerebral

A glimpse at the Cerebral OUD treatment timeline 

After you enroll in the Medication-assisted treatment plan, you’ll be able to select your personal care team comprised of a dedicated prescriber, care counselor, and coordinator. You’ll need to meet with your prescriber before you can see your care counselor.

You’ll then have your initial one-hour intake appointment with your prescriber. During this session, you’ll be evaluated and diagnosed for opioid use, as well as any other conditions. If the MAT plan is deemed an appropriate treatment, you’ll then meet with your prescriber on a weekly basis for the next 3-5 weeks and eventually monthly for 15 minutes.

During this time, your prescriber will monitor how you’re doing with the medication prescribed and adjust medication if and when needed. Each month, you can also sign up for monthly counseling sessions, during which you will work on things like coping skills and working towards recovery goals.

A dedicated support team will be available for 24/7 messaging to help you with any questions or concerns.

Remember, the service provided on the Cerebral OUD platform shouldn’t be taken as a substitute for emergency services. Always involve medical professionals when you experience a mental health emergency, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

How much does the Cerebral OUD plan cost?

While Cerebral offers other plans that do or do not include medication for anxiety, depression, and ADHD, the Cerebral OUD plan is $195 per month. This price includes the cost of at-home screening tests, which will be needed for some prescriber appointments.

Below is a breakdown of the other services that Cerebral can provide, should the MAT plan not be the right choice for you.

How effective is Cerebral OUD?

Cerebral OUD works through a telehealth model, which has been studied extensively for over 20 years. Researchers attempting to establish how telehealth compares to the usual in-person care stated that the two have similar results. One study showed a decrease in negative cognitive symptoms in online cognitive behavior therapy cases. 

However, with advances in technology and medicine growing by the day, it is expected that as cognitive telehealth continues its upward trajectory, more research will be required in this new way of handling opioid use disorders.

Despite being a relatively new actor in the cognitive telehealth industry, Cerebral OUD has been lauded by its users for its positive results. Unsurprisingly, over 90 percent of members who have enrolled for at least three weeks have been on time for their weekly prescriber sessions. 

The verdict – Is Cerebral worth it for opioid dependence recovery?

Cerebral OUD stands as the better option for patients battling opioid dependence. Cerebral OUD’s working with major insurance companies is a plus for insurance holders, as this allows them only to pay copays and a $29 payment to access OUD management plans. 

Even if you don’t have insurance, Cerebral’s OUD Medication-Based Plan is $195 a month, making it an affordable choice that you can access from the comfort of your home. The platform should be an obvious choice if you’re also battling insomnia, depression, and anxiety. 

Cerebral OUD should NOT be used in the case of suicide ideation, pregnancy, or schizophrenia. Cerebral OUD also cannot at this time treat patients who are not located in Colorado, Florida, or Washington. Their other plans, however, are offered in more states, should you be interested in a treatment plan that isn’t part of the MAT Plan.