title: Low (40 mg) versus high (80 mg) dose methadone in a 180-day heroin detoxification program.
abstract: Methadone Transition Treatment (MTT) is a treatment program for opioid-addicted individuals that takes advantage of a 1989 change in federal guidelines permitting the establishment of 180-day detoxification programs. Thirty-eight subjects were assigned to either high-dose (80 mg) or low-dose (40 mg) methadone in a double-blind design. Both conditions showed initial dramatic decreases in illicit drug use and distress symptoms (opioid craving, withdrawal symptoms, and dysphoria). The high-dose condition showed a nonsignificant trend toward less frequent illicit drug use during the period of stable methadone dosing. We speculate that intensive psychosocial treatment, including weekly individual counseling and three-times a week group therapy, may have dampened outcome differences between high- and low-dose methadone conditions. Treatment retention was high for both dosage conditions.
authors.affiliation: Substance Abuse Programs, VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Banys
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Tusel
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Sees
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Delucchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008691:Methadone