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Transferring Methadone‐maintained Outpatients to the Buprenorphine Sublingual Tablet: A Preliminary Study
Author(s) -
Greenwald Mark K.,
Schuh Kory J.,
Stine Susan M.
Publication year - 2003
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.1521-0391.2003.tb00550.x
Subject(s) - buprenorphine , tolerability , meth , medicine , anesthesia , methadone , heroin , opioid , pharmacology , drug , adverse effect , chemistry , receptor , monomer , organic chemistry , acrylate , polymer
There is no accepted algorithm to transfer opioid‐dependent patients from methadone (METH) to its new alternative, buprenorphine (BUP). Five outpatients transferred (double blind, double dummy) from METH 60 mg/day (with one day at 45 mg) to BUP 8 mg s.l. tablet. Relative to METH maintenance, BUP decreased opioid agonist symptoms (transfer day 1) and increased withdrawal symptoms (days 1 and 2) and blood pressure (day 2). Self‐reported heroin use did not increase from METH maintenance levels. It may be feasible to transfer outpatients on METH 60 mg/day to BUP 8 mg/day s.l. tablet, although this pilot protocol needs refinements to improve tolerability and clinical efficacy.