title: The relationship of methadone dose and other variables to outcomes of methadone maintenance.
abstract: The authors evaluated the relationship of methadone dose to retention in treatment and to urine tests for morphine and cocaine in a cohort of 610 opioid users admitted to methadone maintenance and followed for 1 year. Methadone dosing was flexible, with patient participation in dose decisions. The maximum dose during treatment ranged from 10 mg to 110 mg, with a mean of 52 mg. Higher doses were associated with increased retention through the dose range of 60 mg-69 mg. Dose was not related to the likelihood of a positive morphine test but was related to the likelihood of a positive cocaine test. In this study, with flexible dosing and patient participation in dose decisions, patients were retained on methadone about as well as was reported in a previous study with patients on a fixed dose of 80 mg.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Department of Psychiatry 78284-7792, USA.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Maddux
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Prihoda
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Vogtsberger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003042:Cocaine; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009021:Morphine Dependence / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003042:Cocaine; D008691:Methadone