Buprenorphine tapering schedule and illicit opioid use.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

To compare the effects of a short or long taper schedule after buprenorphine stabilization on participant outcomes as measured by opioid-free urine tests at the end of each taper period.

Design

This multi-site study sponsored by Clinical Trials Network (CTN, a branch of the US National Institute on Drug Abuse) was conducted from 2003 to 2005 to compare two taper conditions (7 days and 28 days). Data were collected at weekly clinic visits to the end of the taper periods, and at 1-month and 3-month post-taper follow-up visits.

Setting

Eleven out-patient treatment programs in 10 US cities.

Intervention

Non-blinded dosing with Suboxone during the 1-month stabilization phase included 3 weeks of flexible dosing as determined appropriate by the study physicians.

SUBMITTER: Ling W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3150159 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature