Transfer From Methadone to Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment Using Buprenorphine Patches

Transfer From Methadone to Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment Using Buprenorphine Patches: A Study on Practicability With Patients Maintained With Daily Dosages Between 60mg and 100mg Methadone.

Status

UNKNOWN

Phases

Phase 4

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00750217

Enrollment

Registered

2008-09-10

Start date

2008-08-31

Completion date

2009-05-31

Last updated

2008-09-10

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Heroin Addiction

Keywords

transfer methadone buprenorphine patch heroin addiction

Brief summary

Buprenorphine is an important alternative to methadone in the maintenance treatment of heroin addiction. Transfer from methadone to buprenorphine requires a reduction of daily methadone dosage below 30 mg to avoid withdrawal after the first buprenorphine intake. The study hypothesis states that the transfer from a daily methadone dosage between 60 mg and 100 mg to buprenorphine can be carried out without withdrawal using buprenorphine patches (35 micro grams per hour) within 12 to 48 hours after last methadone intake.

Interventions

DRUGBuprenorphine patch and sublingual tablets

Buprenorphine patch: 35 micro grams per hour 12 to 48 hours after last methadone intake. Buprenorphine sublingual tablets: 2mg 48 and 60 hours after last methadone intake; 8mg 72 and 84 hours after last methadone intake; 8mg 96, 102 and 109 hours after last methadone intake.

Study design

Allocation

Intervention model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 60 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Age between 18 and 60 years * Methadone maintenance treatment for at least 3 months preceding the study * Daily methadone dosage between 60mg amd 100mg * Sufficient knowledge of German language * Ability to give informed consent

Exclusion criteria

* Daily methadone dosage below 60mg amd over 100mg * Prescribed use of benzodiazepines over 30 mg equivalent to diazepam * Misuse or dependence of alcohol and/or GHB/GBL * Pregnant or breast-feeding women * Known intolerance of buprenorphine * Somatic diseases interfering with the study plan

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Short Opiate Withdrawal Scale	14 days

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Heroin use	60 days

Countries

Switzerland

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026