Males and females differ in response to opioid agonist medications.
Few clinical trials include sex as a factor. This analysis explored within-sex differences in response to opioid agonist medications. Males and females randomly assigned to buprenorphine, LAAM, or methadone were compared on opioid use and retention in treatment. Females receiving buprenorphine had less objective drug use than females receiving methadone, while males receiving LAAM had less objective drug use than males receiving buprenorphine. Retention in treatment was longer for both sexes receiving methadone versus LAAM. Within-subject change results indicate that all three medications benefit both sexes. Clinical trials should be designed to examine the impact of sex on outcomes.
Jones
Hendrée E
HE
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral sciences, The Jhons Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. hendreejones@yahoo.com
Fitzgerald
Heather
H
Johnson
Rolley E
RE
D000328:Adult; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008692:Methadyl Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000819:agonists*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009294:Narcotics; D002047:Buprenorphine; D008692:Methadyl Acetate; D008691:Methadone