Transfer From Methadone to Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment Using Buprenorphine Patches

• Status: Unknown status
• Trial end date: 2009-05-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

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.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Psychiatric University Hospital, Zurich
• Treatments: Buprenorphine; Methadone

Criteria

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