EFFECT OF LAAM DOSE ON OPIATE USE IN OPIOID-DEPENDENT PATIENTS - A PILOT-STUDY

The authors conducted a 16-week study with nine opioid-dependent indiv iduals (six made; four white/two African American/three Hispanic; age 36.8+/-2.2 years). Participants were assigned to either a low-dose (16 5 mg/week n=5) or high-dose (330 mg/week; n=4) Levo-alpha-acetylmethad ol (LAAM) condition according to a randomized, double-blind within-sub jects crossover design, such that they were inducted onto one maintena nce dose for 4 weeks and then were crossed over to receive the convers e for 4 weeks. Subsequently: individuals underwent detoxification from LAAM. Eight of nine participants completed the study protocol. The pr oportion of urine samples positive for opiates was 0.22 +/- 0.08 and 0 .53 +/- 0.12, under the high- and low-dose conditions respectively (F = 11.8; P=0.01). These results show, that LAAM close regimen affects t he degree of abstinence from opioids.