PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Srivastava, Anita
AU  - Kahan, Meldon
AU  - Njoroge, Irene
AU  - Sommer, Leeor Z.
TI  - Buprenorphine in the emergency department
DP  - 2019 May 01
TA  - Canadian Family Physician
PG  - e214--e220
VI  - 65
IP  - 5
4099  - http://www.cfp.ca/content/65/5/e214.short
4100  - http://www.cfp.ca/content/65/5/e214.full
SO  - Can Fam Physician2019 May 01; 65
AB  - Objective To compare buprenorphine to clonidine for the treatment of opioid withdrawal in the emergency department (ED) and to study the effect assigned treatment medication had on longer-term addiction treatment outcomes.Design Randomized controlled trial.Setting Toronto, Ont.Participants Twenty-six patients presenting to the ED while in opioid withdrawal or soon to be in opioid withdrawal.Main outcome measures Patients were randomized to receive either clonidine or buprenorphine treatment. Both groups also received a corresponding discharge prescription and information on how to follow up in the addictions rapid access clinic (RAC) within a few days. Participants were followed for 1 month with respect to attendance at the RAC and to opioid agonist treatment status. Outcome measures included attendance at the RAC within 5 days of the initial ED visit and opioid agonist treatment status at 1 month (as determined by clinic attendance or self-report during a follow-up telephone interview).Results Participants who received buprenorphine in the ED were more likely to be receiving opioid agonist treatment at the 1-month mark compared with those participants who received clonidine to treat their withdrawal (P = .011).Conclusion When opioid withdrawal is treated with buprenorphine in the ED, patients are more likely to be receiving opioid agonist treatment and connected with addiction treatment 1 month later.Trial registration number NCT03174067 (ClinicalTrials.gov).