Transfer From Methadone to Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment Using Buprenorphine Patches

Psychiatric University Hospital, Zurich

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 4

Conditions: Heroin Addiction

Treatments: Drug: Buprenorphine patch and sublingual tablets

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00750217

E-54/2007

Details and patient eligibility

About

Buprenorphine is an important alternative to methadone in the maintenance treatment of heroin addiction. Transfer from methadone to buprenorphine requires a reduction of daily methadone dosage below 30 mg to avoid withdrawal after the first buprenorphine intake. The study hypothesis states that the transfer from a daily methadone dosage between 60 mg and 100 mg to buprenorphine can be carried out without withdrawal using buprenorphine patches (35 micro grams per hour) within 12 to 48 hours after last methadone intake.

Enrollment: 10 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age between 18 and 60 years
• Methadone maintenance treatment for at least 3 months preceding the study
• Daily methadone dosage between 60mg amd 100mg
• Sufficient knowledge of German language
• Ability to give informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Daily methadone dosage below 60mg amd over 100mg
• Prescribed use of benzodiazepines over 30 mg equivalent to diazepam
• Misuse or dependence of alcohol and/or GHB/GBL
• Pregnant or breast-feeding women
• Known intolerance of buprenorphine
• Somatic diseases interfering with the study plan

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)