A preliminary study comparing methadone and buprenorphine in patients with chronic pain and coexistent opioid addiction

J Addict Dis. 2013;32(1):68-78. doi: 10.1080/10550887.2012.759872.

Abstract

Patients with opioid addiction who receive prescription opioids for treatment of nonmalignant chronic pain present a therapeutic challenge. Fifty-four participants with chronic pain and opioid addiction were randomized to receive methadone or buprenorphine/naloxone. At the 6-month follow-up examination, 26 (48.1%) participants who remained in the study noted a 12.75% reduction in pain (P = 0.043), and no participants in the methadone group compared to 5 in the buprenorphine group reported illicit opioid use (P = 0.039). Other differences between the two conditions were not found. Long-term, low-dose methadone or buprenorphine/naloxone treatment produced analgesia in participants with chronic pain and opioid addiction.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00879996.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Sublingual
  • Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage
  • Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use*
  • Analgesics, Opioid / urine
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Buprenorphine / administration & dosage
  • Buprenorphine / therapeutic use*
  • Chronic Pain / complications
  • Chronic Pain / drug therapy*
  • Drug Combinations
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methadone / administration & dosage
  • Methadone / therapeutic use*
  • Middle Aged
  • Naloxone / administration & dosage
  • Naloxone / therapeutic use
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / complications
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / urine
  • Prescription Drug Misuse
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Substance Abuse Detection*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Drug Combinations
  • Naloxone
  • Buprenorphine
  • Methadone

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00879996