title: Role of buprenorphine in the management of heroin addiction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review buprenorphine and explore its role in the treatment of heroin dependence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles were identified through a search of MEDLINE (1966-February 2005) using the key terms buprenorphine, heroin, opioid, addiction, and methadone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Buprenorphine appears to provide potential advantages over methadone. Two Cochrane meta-analyses were evaluated on the use of buprenorphine in opioid dependence-one in the management of opioid dependence and the other in the management of opioid withdrawal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Buprenorphine offers several advantages for the treatment of heroin addiction. As maintenance treatment, buprenorphine is effective, but not more effective than methadone. In the management of opioid withdrawal, buprenorphine may be better tolerated than clonidine or methadone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Bronx Veterans Affairs Medical Center, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Soojin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Conry
mesh_terms: D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D002047:Buprenorphine