Search

Aims Slow-release morphine may represent a much-needed new pharmacological treatment for opioid dependence. Design In a 14-week randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, cross-over study oral slow-release morphine was compared with methadone as a treatment for opioid dependency. During two study periods, each consisting of a 1-week titration and a 6-week fixed-dose treatment phase, medication was administered daily under supervised conditions. Setting The study was carried out at the Addiction Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Medical University Vienna. Participants Sixty-four subjects (56 males, eight females) with opioid dependence participated in the trial. Measurements Efficacy was evaluated on the basis of retention, use of illicit substances based on urinalysis, extent of drug cravings, withdrawal symptoms and general wellbeing. Safety was assessed on the basis of adverse events and clinical and physical examination. Demographic and baseline characteristics were assessed using the European Addiction Severity Index. Findings Fifty-five patients (86%) completed the study, with a mean methadone dose of 85 mg and a mean slow-release morphine dose of 680 mg. No significant differences in retention or use of illicit substances (opioids, benzodiazepines, cocaine) were observed, irrespective of treatment group or medication. However, patients receiving slow-release morphine had significantly lower depression (P

To assess the effects of maternal buprenorphine treatment at conception and during pregnancy on neonates in terms of birth outcomes and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).Prospective, open-label, out-patient maintenance, case report study, conducted at the drug addiction out-patient clinic at the University Hospital Vienna.Two buprenorphine-maintained pregnant women who had conceived during buprenorphine treatment. Both patients had previously given birth to healthy neonates following induction on to buprenorphine maintenance therapy in the second trimester.Mothers: urinalysis. Neonates: gestational age at delivery, Apgar scores, birth weight, length and NAS (Finnegan Scale).Urinalyses were negative for both women for 25 and 38 months, respectively, during the pregnancy period. There were no complications during the course of the pregnancy. The newborns delivered by both women were healthy, birth outcomes were within normal ranges and there were no NAS symptoms requiring treatment.To our knowledge this is the first report detailing the pregnancies of women treated with buprenorphine at the time of conception and investigated in a prospective study. The NAS noted in neonates born to buprenorphine-maintained mothers appears to be less severe than the NAS observed in neonates born to methadone-maintained mothers. These preliminary data indicate that, in our patient cohort, buprenorphine maintenance at the time of conception and during pregnancy did not seem to affect birth outcome measurements such as pregnancy complications, week of delivery, birth weight, length, umbilical pH or neurodevelopmental progress. Future prospective studies with larger study populations are warranted.

Aims: To assess the maternal and fetal acceptability of buprenorphine and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in children born to buprenorphine-maintained mothers. Design and setting: Open-label, flexible dosing, inpatient induction with outpatient maintenance, conducted at the University of Vienna within the existing pregnancy and drug addiction program. Participants: Fifteen opioid-dependent pregnant women. Intervention. Sublingual buprenorphine tablets (1-10 mg/day). Measurements: Mothers: withdrawal symptoms (Wang Scale), nicotine dependence (Fagerstrom Scale: FTQ) and urinalysis. Neonates: birth outcome and NAS (Finnegan Scale). Findings: All subjects were opioid-, nicotine- and cannabis-dependent. Buprenorphine was well tolerated during induction (Wang Score \< = 4) and illicit opioid use was negligible (91% opioid-negative). All maternal, fetal and neonatal safety laboratory measures were within normal limits or not of clinical significance. Mean birth outcome measures including gestational age at delivery (39.6 ± 1.5 weeks), Apgar scores (1 min = 8.9; 5 min = 9.9; and 10 min = 10), birth weight (3049 ± 346 g), length (49.8 ± 1.9 cm) and head circumference (34.1 ± 1.8 cm) were within normal limits. The NAS was absent, mild (without treatment) and moderate (with treatment) in eight, four and three neonates, respectively. The mean duration of NAS was 1.1 days. Conclusions: Buprenorphine appears to be well accepted by mother and fetus, and associated with a low incidence of NAS. Further investigation of buprenorphine as a maintenance agent for opioid-dependent pregnant women is needed.