Preference for buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine among patients receiving buprenorphine maintenance therapy in France: A prospective, multicenter study

• Published in: Journal of substance abuse treatment 2010, Vol.38 (1), p.83-89
• Main Authors: Daulouède, Jean-Pierre, M.D, Caer, Yves, M.D, Galland, Pascal, M.D, Villeger, Pierre, M.D, Brunelle, Emmanuel, M.D, Bachellier, Jérôme, M.D, Piquet, Jean-Michel, M.D, Harbonnier, Jean, M.D, Leglise, Yves, M.D, Courty, Pascal, M.D., Ph.D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Buprenorphine; Buprenorphine - administration & dosage; Buprenorphine - adverse effects; Desintoxication. Drug withdrawal; Drug abuse; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Combinations; Female; France; Heroin; Heroin Dependence - drug therapy; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Misuse; Naloxone; Naloxone - administration & dosage; Naloxone - adverse effects; Narcotic Antagonists - administration & dosage; Narcotic Antagonists - adverse effects; Narcotics; Opioids; Patient Preference; Patient Satisfaction; Patients; Preferences; Prospective Studies; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Risk reduction; Substance abuse treatment; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tablets; Treatment Outcome; Treatments
• ISSN: 0740-5472; 1873-6483
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2009.07.002

Abstract Maintenance treatment with buprenorphine tablets (Subutex) has been associated with reductions in heroin use; however, concerns for intravenous misuse exist. A buprenorphine/naloxone formulation (Suboxone) was designed to reduce this misuse risk while retaining buprenorphine's efficacy and safety. This prospective, open-label, multicenter trial compared preferences for buprenorphine and buprenorphine/naloxone in 53 opioid-dependent patients stabilized on buprenorphine. Buprenorphine was first administered at the patient's current dose (Days 1–2), followed by a direct switch to buprenorphine/naloxone (Days 3–5). Global satisfaction rates were high and similar between buprenorphine and buprenorphine/naloxone; however, patients preferred the tablet taste, size, and sublingual dissolution time of buprenorphine/naloxone. At the end of the study, 54% of patients preferred buprenorphine/naloxone, 31% preferred buprenorphine, and 15% had no preference; most patients (71%) wished to continue treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone. This study did not identify any impediments to a direct buprenorphine-to-buprenorphine/naloxone switch and revealed some characteristics that may facilitate treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone.