Elsevier

Biological Psychiatry

Volume 47, Issue 12, June 2000, Pages 1072-1079
Biological Psychiatry

Original article
Thrice-weekly versus daily buprenorphine maintenance

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3223(99)00270-XGet rights and content
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Abstract

Background: Buprenorphine is a promising alternative to methadone or levo-acetyl alpha methadol for opioid agonist maintenance treatment, and thrice-weekly dosing would facilitate its use for this purpose.

Methods: After a 3-day induction, opioid-dependent patients (n = 92) were randomly assigned to daily clinic attendance and 12-weeks maintenance treatment with sublingual buprenorphine administered double blind either daily (n = 45; 16 mg/70 kg) or thrice weekly (n = 47; 34 mg/70 kg on Fridays and Sundays and 44 mg/70 kg on Tuesdays). Outcome measures include retention, results of 3×/week urine toxicology tests, and weekly self-reported illicit drug use.

Results: There were no significant differences at baseline in important social, demographic, and drug-use features. Retention was 71% in the daily and 77% in the 3×/week conditions. The proportion of opioid-positive urine tests decreased significantly from baseline in both groups and averaged 57% (daily) and 58% in 3×/week. There were no significant differences between groups in self-reported number of bags of heroin used for any day of the week, including Thursdays (48–72 hours following the last buprenorphine dose for subjects in the 3×/week condition), or in medication compliance (92%, 91%) and counseling attendance (82%, 82%).

Conclusions: At an equivalent weekly dose of 112 mg/70 kg, thrice-weekly and daily sublingual buprenorphine appear comparable in efficacy with regard to retention and reductions in illicit opioid and other drug use. These findings support the potential for utilizing thrice-weekly buprenorphine dosing in novel settings.

Keywords

Buprenorphine
clinical trial
heroin dependence treatment
opioid agonist maintenance treatment
opioid dependence
opioid treatment

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