"Should I stay or should I go?" Coming off methadone and buprenorphine treatment.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to investigate patient perspectives regarding coming off maintenance opioid substitution treatment (OST). The study explored previous experiences, current interest and concerns about stopping treatment, and perceptions of how and when coming off treatment should be supported.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was used. Participants were 145 patients receiving OST at public opioid treatment clinics in Sydney, Australia.


RESULTS
Sixty-two percent reported high interest in coming off treatment in the next 6 months. High interest was associated with having discussed coming off treatment with a greater number of categories of people (OR=1.72), not citing concern about heroin relapse (OR=3.18), and shorter duration of current treatment episode (OR=0.99). Seventy-one percent reported previous withdrawal attempts and 23% had achieved opioid abstinence for ≥3 months following a previous withdrawal attempt. Attempts most commonly involved jumping off (59%), and doctor-controlled (52%) or self-controlled (48%) gradual reduction. For future attempts respondents were most interested in doctor-controlled (68%) or self-controlled (41%) gradual reduction. Concerns regarding coming off treatment included withdrawal discomfort (68%), increased pain (50%), and relapse to heroin use (48%).


CONCLUSIONS
While some patients may require lifetime maintenance, the issue of coming off treatment is important to many patients and should be discussed regularly throughout treatment and where appropriate supported by a menu of clinical options.
National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, 4 Windsor Walk, London, UK. adam.winstock@kcl.ac.uk
Adam R
AR
Winstock
Nicholas
N
Lintzeris
Toby
T
Lea
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000523:psychology*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002047:Buprenorphine; D008691:Methadone