Thomas Eissenberg, George E. Bigelow, Eric C. Strain
1997
Citations
0
Influential Citations
36
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
JAMA
Abstract
Objective. —To compare the clinical efficacy of different doses of levomethadyl acetate hydrochloride (known as LAAM) in the treatment of opioid dependence. Design. —A randomized controlled, double-blind, parallel group, 17-week study. Setting. —Outpatient facilities at Johns Hopkins University Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, Md. Patients. —Opioid-dependent volunteers (N=180) applying to a treatment-research clinic. Intervention. —Thrice-weekly (Monday/Wednesday/Friday) oral LAAM dose conditions of 25/25/35 mg, 50/50/70 mg, and 100/100/140 mg and nonmandatory counseling. Main Outcome Measures. —Retention in treatment, self-reported heroin use, and opioid-positive urine specimens. Results. —Retention was independent of subjects' sex and dose. Self-reported heroin use decreased in a dose-related manner. At final assessment, patients in the high-dose condition reported using heroin 2.5 of 30 days as compared with 4.1 or 6.3 days for patients in the medium-dose and low-dose conditions, respectively (high dose vs low dose, P P Conclusion. —Opioid substitution treatment with LAAM substantially reduces illicit opioid use. The clinical efficacy of LAAM is positively related to dose.