Back to Search Start Over

A controlled trial of daily versus thrice-weekly buprenorphine administration for the treatment of opioid dependence

A controlled trial of daily versus thrice-weekly buprenorphine administration for the treatment of opioid dependence

Authors :
Alvaro Etcheberrigaray
Antoni Tejero
Joan Trujols
Miquel Casas
Silvia Martin
Fanny Batlle
José Pérez de los Cobos
J. M. Queralto
Source :
Drug and alcohol dependence. 59(3)
Publication Year :
2000

Abstract

This study was aimed at determining whether thrice-weekly administration of buprenorphine is as effective as daily administration for treating opioid dependence. A total of 60 treatment-seeking opioid addicts were randomly assigned to take buprenorphine tablets sublingually either every day (8 mg) or thrice-weekly (16 mg on Mondays and Wednesdays and 24 mg on Fridays) over the course of a 12-week, double-blind, parallel trial. The buprenorphine dosing schedule had no significant effect on treatment retention. The rates of opioid-positive urine tests were significantly higher among those subjects who were given buprenorphine thrice weekly (58.5%) than among those who took it daily (46.6%). An analysis of the completers did not detect a significant effect of buprenorphine dosing schedule. The results obtained in our clinical trials indicate the advisability of daily doses of buprenorphine, at least at the beginning of a maintenance programme.

Details

ISSN :
03768716
Volume :
59
Issue :
3
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Drug and alcohol dependence
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....07c880a850e6427e7c12aa759cbbe2dd