A controlled trial of daily versus thrice-weekly buprenorphine administration for the treatment of opioid dependence.
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.
Pérez de los Cobos
J
J
Addictive Behaviours Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona Autonomous University School of Medicine, Sant Antoni Ma Claret, 167, 08025, Barcelona, Spain.
Martin
S
S
Etcheberrigaray
A
A
Trujols
J
J
Batlle
F
F
Tejero
A
A
Queraltó
J M
JM
Casas
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D002047:Buprenorphine