Participant Characteristics and Buprenorphine Dose

Abstract

Background: Clinical parameters for determining buprenorphine dose have not been adequately examined in treatment outcome research. Objectives: This study is a secondary analysis of data collected in a recently completed comparison of buprenorphine taper schedules conducted as part of the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Clinical Trials Network to assess whether participant baseline characteristics are associated with buprenorphine dose. Methods: After 3 weeks of flexible dosing, 516 participants were categorized by dose provided in the final dosing week (9.3% received a final week dose of 8 mg buprenorphine, 27.3% received 16 mg, and 63.4% received 24 mg). Results: Findings show that final week dose groups differed in baseline demographic and drug use characteristics including education, heroin use, route of drug administration, withdrawal symptoms, and craving. These groups also differed in opioid use during the four dosing weeks, with the lowest use in the 8 mg group and highest use in the 24 mg group (p < .0001). Additional analyses address withdrawal symptoms and craving. Conclusions and Scientific Significance: Final week dose groups differed in demographic and drug use characteristics, and the group receiving the largest final week dose had the highest rate of continued opioid use. These findings may contribute to the development of clinical guidelines regarding buprenorphine dose in the treatment of opioid dependence; however, further investigations that include random assignment to dose by baseline characteristics are needed.

• buprenorphine
• opioids
• treatment
• dose

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors acknowledge the Clinical Trial Network (CTN) Nodes and Community Treatment Programs that participated in the parent study: Rocky Mountain – ARTS, DHHA; Washington – Providence Behavioral Health Center; Oregon – CODA; New England – Connecticut Counseling Centers, Hartford Dispensary; New York – VA NY Harbor Health Care System; Mid-Atlantic – Norfolk Community Services Board; Long Island – Long Island Jewish Health System; North Carolina – Coastal Horizons Center, Southlight-Wakeview Clinic. This study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network #U10 DA 13045. This article has not been published elsewhere and has not been submitted simultaneously for publication elsewhere.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.