Abstract | AIMS: DESIGN: A two-group experimental design with patients randomly assigned (2 : 1 LAAM : MM) to receive LAAM (three doses per week) or methadone (daily dosing). SETTING: A community clinic in Los Angeles, California. PARTICIPANTS: INTERVENTION:
LAAM or methadone maintenance, plus ancillary services available to all patients. LAAM and methadone dose levels varied according to clinical judgement. Electrocardiograms were administered to LAAM patients monthly. MEASUREMENTS: Treatment status at 26-week follow-up and number of days retained in treatment, weekly clinical urine tests and 26-week research urine test. FINDINGS:
LAAM and methadone patients did not differ on treatment retention. LAAM patients were less likely to test positive for opiate use during treatment (40% versus 60%) and at 26-week follow up (39.8% versus 60.2%). Benefits of LAAM were confined to patients (n = 204) still in treatment at 26 weeks (33% positive in patients receiving LAAM and 61% in patients receiving methadone). No adverse events, cardiological or otherwise, were observed with LAAM administration. CONCLUSIONS:
LAAM is an effective medication for the treatment of opiate dependence with clinical advantages due not only to the reduction of opiate use but also to the alternate-day dosing schedule. LAAM may be more effective than methadone in promoting abstinence from opiate use among patients for whom LAAM is an acceptable alternative to methadone.
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Authors | Douglas Longshore, Jeffrey Annon, M Douglas Anglin, Richard A Rawson |
Journal | Addiction (Abingdon, England)
(Addiction)
Vol. 100
Issue 8
Pg. 1131-9
(Aug 2005)
ISSN: 0965-2140 [Print] England |
PMID | 16042643
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
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Chemical References |
- Narcotic Antagonists
- Narcotics
- Methadyl Acetate
- Methadone
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Topics |
- Adult
- Female
- Heroin Dependence
(rehabilitation)
- Humans
- Male
- Methadone
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Methadyl Acetate
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Middle Aged
- Multivariate Analysis
- Narcotic Antagonists
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Narcotics
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Patient Compliance
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