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Volume 38, Issue 1, Pages 83-89 (January 2010)


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

Jean-Pierre Daulouède, M.D.aCorresponding Author Informationemail address, Yves Caer, M.D.b, Pascal Galland, M.D.c, Pierre Villeger, M.D.d, Emmanuel Brunelle, M.D.e, Jérôme Bachellier, M.D.f, Jean-Michel Piquet, M.D.g, Jean Harbonnier, M.D.h, Yves Leglise, M.D.i, Pascal Courty, M.D., Ph.D.j

Received 16 March 2009; received in revised form 2 June 2009; accepted 17 July 2009. published online 05 October 2009.

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.

a Centre Bizia, Bayonne, France

b Hôpital Caremeau, Nîmes, France

c Centre Hospitalier, Béziers, France

d Centre Hospitalier Esquirol, Limoges, France

e Centre Hospitalier, Lens, France

f Centre Port Bretagne, Tours, France

g CSST Le Cèdre bleu, Lille, France

h Centre Hospitalier Lille, France

i UTTD Centre Charles Flahault CHU, Montpellier, France

j Centre Hospitalier, Clermont-Ferrand, France

Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Centre Bizia, Bât. Zabal, Centre Hospitalier de la Côte Basque BP 08, 64100 Bayonne, France. Tel.: +33 05 59 44 31 00; fax: +33 05 59 52 08 16.

PII: S0740-5472(09)00120-2

doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2009.07.002


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