engleski

Availability of buprenorphine and therapeutic respons in opioid substitution treatment of outpatients

Buprenorphine sublingual tablets are used as opioid substitution treatment in Centers for prevention and treatment of drug addiction in Croatia since 2004. Until 2007 this medication was not reimbursed by Croatian Health Insurance Institute while recommended doses were 2-4 mg per day. It was noticed that 2-4 mg of buprenorphine per day during the induction phase was not effective dose for most of outpatients. It was one of the reasons for discontinuation of the substitution treatment. Retention in treatment was compared between two groups of outpatients, first from 2006 (n=24) and second from 2007 (n=27). Observed period was first four months of both years, and only patients who came at Centre once a week for at least one month were included. Dose of buprenorphine in first group was 2-4 mg per day and in second group was 6-8 mg per day. There was no significant difference between groups in demographic characteristics (gender, age, employment, education and marital status) as well as in duration of heroin use. In first group 12 patients discontinued buprenorphine substitution treatment within 30 days, while in the second group this number was 7 (p<0.05). Positive urine opiate test in first and second week was also significantly different between two groups (p<0.05). Due to the fact that buprenorphine was reimbursed by Croatian Health Insurance Institute in full amount from the beginning of 2007, higher ("adequate") dose of buprenorphine to improve retention rates is recommend.

addiction ; buprenorphine

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