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Walter Ling, M.D.
Lead Investigator
Director, Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, UCLA
11075 Santa Monica Boulevard
Suite 225
Los Angeles, CA 90025
lwalter@ix.netcom.com |
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For decades clinicians have been frustrated by the inability to successfully
detoxify opiate addicted patients because opiate-based detoxification,
one of the most effective means to achieving that goal, has been unavailable
outside the very restrictive confines of narcotic treatment programs
(NTPs). A new medication, Buprenorphine, shows promise as an effective
aid for opiate detoxification. However, little data have been generated
for the shorter-term use of Buprenorphine/Naloxone (Suboxone) for this
indication. This protocol will compare the clinical utility of two dosage
tapering regimens (7 days and 28 days) in Buprenorphine/Naloxone stabilized
subjects for opiate detoxification.
Primary Findings: There appears to be no advantage in prolonging the duration of the taper for individuals terminating Buprenorphine/Naloxone therapy for opioid dependence. At the end of the taper, 44% of the 7-day taper group (n=255) provided opioid-free urine specimens compared to 30% of the 28-day taper group (n=261; P=0.0007). There were no differences at the 1-month and 3-month follow-ups (7-day=18% and 12%; 28-day=18% and 13%, 1 month and 3 months, respectively).
Source: Ling W, et al. Buprenorphine tapering schedule and illicit opioid use. Addiction 2009;104:256-265. [get article]
Extra Edition! This single-issue newsletter about CTN-0003 was distributed in 2006 at the Face-to-Face meeting in Dallas, TX, and provides interesting study facts, a message from the lead node, and acknowledgements to those who participated. [read newsletter] |
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