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Methadone vs. L‐alpha‐acetylmethadol (LAAM) in the Treatment of Opiate Addiction
Author(s) -
Glanz Morton,
Klawansky Sidney,
McAullife William,
Chalmers Thomas
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
the american journal on addictions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.997
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-0391
pISSN - 1055-0496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1521-0391.1997.tb00415.x
Subject(s) - methadone , discontinuation , opiate , addiction , medicine , randomized controlled trial , significant difference , psychiatry , anesthesia , receptor
The authors conducted a meta‐analysis of the reported randomized, controlled trials comparing methadone to L‐alphaacetylmethadol (LAAM) to assess the efficacy of LAAM relative to methadone in the treatment of opiate addiction. All studies were conducted in standard outpatient opiate addiction treatment clinics. Most patients were men from lower socioeconomic strata. A statistically significant risk difference favoring methadone was detected for retention‐in‐treatment and discontinuation of treatment because of side effects. The risk difference for illicit drug use favored LAAM, but was not significant. A small treatment difference in favor of methadone was noted. LAAM does appear to be a relatively effective alternative in the treatment of opiate addiction, more so in certain select situations.