title: Course of weight change during naltrexone versus methadone maintenance for opioid-dependent patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  micro-Opiate receptor agonism has been associated with weight gain, whereas micro-antagonists have been associated with weight neutrality, or even weight loss.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the course of weight changes in opiate-dependent patients over the first 6 months of treatment in methadone (agonist) versus naltrexone (antagonist) maintenance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was conducted on 36 opiate-dependent patients maintained on methadone (n=16) or naltrexone (n=20). OUTCOME MEASURES AND ANALYSES: The primary outcome measure was change in body weight from baseline to 3 months and 6 months into treatment. Analysis of variance was used to compare mean weights between the methadone- and naltrexone-maintained patients. Secondarily, mean percent weight changes from baseline to 3 months and from baseline to 6 months into treatment were compared using Student's t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference between weight at baseline, 3 months, or 6 months into treatment between the two treatment groups. Furthermore, there was also no difference between the two groups regarding percent weight change from baseline to 3 months or baseline to 6 months. At 3 months, n=16 methadone patients had a mean weight increase of 1.86 percent (standard deviation [SD] = 7.22 percent) when compared with n=20 Behavioral Naltrexone Therapy (BNT) patients with an increase of 4.63 percent (SD = 6.49 percent). At 6 months, n=16 methadone patients had a mean weight increase relative to baseline of 3.67 percent (SD = 9.52percent) when compared with n=20 BNT patients, who demonstrated a mean increase of 6.69 percent (SD = 7.56 percent). No association was found between baseline weight, defined as "low" or "high" relative to group medians, and percent gain within and between treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study did not detect a statistically different course of weight gain between methadone and naltrexone maintenance treatment for opiate-dependent patients.
authors: Division of Addiction Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA.
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Mysels
authors: Suzanne K
authors: SK
authors: Vosburg
authors: Ileana
authors: I
authors: Benga
authors: Frances R
authors: FR
authors: Levin
authors: Maria A
authors: MA
authors: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone; D008691:Methadone