A controlled trial of daily versus thrice-weekly buprenorphine administration for the treatment of opioid dependence

This study was aimed at determining whether thrice-weekly administration of buprenorphine is as effective as daily administration for treating opioid dependence. A total of 60 treatment-seeking opioid addicts were randomly as signed to take buprenorphine tablets sublingually either every day (8 mg) o r thrice-weekly (16 mg on Mondays and Wednesdays and 24 mg on Fridays) over the course of a 12-week. double-blind, parallel trial. The buprenorphine d osing schedule had no significant effect on treatment retention. The rates of opioid-positive urine tests were significantly higher among those subjec ts who were given buprenorphine thrice weekly (58.5%) than among those who took it daily (46.6%). An analysis of the completers did not detect a signi ficant effect of buprenorphine dosing schedule. The results obtained in our clinical trials indicate the advisability of-daily doses of buprenorphine, at least at the beginning of a maintenance programme. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sci ence Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.