Rifampin, but not rifabutin, may produce opiate withdrawal in buprenorphine-maintained patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

This series of studies examines the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic interactions between buprenorphine, an opioid partial agonist increasingly used in treatment of opioid dependence, and rifampin, a medication used as a first line treatment for tuberculosis; or rifabutin, an alternative antituberculosis medication.

Methods

Opioid-dependent individuals on stable doses of buprenorphine/naloxone underwent two, 24-h blood sampling studies: (1) for buprenorphine pharmacokinetics and (2) following 15 days of rifampin 600 mg daily or rifabutin 300 mg daily for buprenorphine and rifampin or rifabutin pharmacokinetics.

Results

Rifampin administration produced significant reduction in plasma buprenorphine concentrations (70% reduction in mean area under the curve (AU

SUBMITTER: McCance-Katz EF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3272858 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature