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Science 8 February 1980:
Vol. 207. no. 4431, pp. 657 - 659
DOI: 10.1126/science.7352279
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Articles

Science, Vol 207, Issue 4431, 657-659
Copyright © 1980 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Buprenorphine suppresses heroin use by heroin addicts

NK Mello and JH Mendelson

Heroin-dependent men were given buprenorphine (a partial opiate agonist-antagonist) or a placebo under duoble-blind conditions on a clinical research ward where they could acquire heroin (21 to 40.5 milligrams per day, intravenously). Buprenorphine significantly (P less than .001) suppressed the self-administration of heroin over 10 days. Control subjects took between 93 and 100 percent of the available heroin. The effects of buprenorphine were dose-dependent; a dose of 8 milligrams per day reduced heroin use by 69 to 98 percent; a dose of 4 milligrams per day reduced heroin use by 45 percent. Termination of buprenorphie maintenance did not result in opiate withdrawal signs or symptoms. The subjects liked buprenorphine and indicated that it was preferable to methadone or naltrexone. Buprenorphine should be a safe and effective new pharmacotherapy for heroin dependence.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Methadone Versus Buprenorphine With Contingency Management or Performance Feedback for Cocaine and Opioid Dependence.
R. S. Schottenfeld, M. C. Chawarski, J. R. Pakes, M. V. Pantalon, K. M. Carroll, and T. R. Kosten (2005)
Am J Psychiatry 162, 340-349
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Inhibition of Methadone and Buprenorphine N-Dealkylations by Three HIV-1 Protease Inhibitors.
C. Iribarne, F. Berthou, D. Carlhant, Y. Dreano, D. Picart, F. Lohezic, and C. Riche (1998)
Drug Metab. Dispos. 26, 257-260
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µ-Opioid Receptor Internalization: Opiate Drugs Have Differential Effects on a Conserved Endocytic Mechanism In Vitro and in the Mammalian Brain.
D. E. Keith, B. Anton, S. R. Murray, P. A. Zaki, P. C. Chu, D. V. Lissin, G. Monteillet-Agius, P. L. Stewart, C. J. Evans, and M. v. Zastrow (1998)
Mol. Pharmacol. 53, 377-384
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Subnanogram-concentration measurement of buprenorphine in human plasma by electron-capture capillary gas chromatography: application to pharmacokinetics of sublingual buprenorphine.
E. T. Everhart, P. Cheung, P. Shwonek, K. Zabel, E. C. Tisdale, P. Jacob III, J. Mendelson, and R. T. Jones (1997)
Clin. Chem. 43, 2292-2302
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Buprenorphine vs Methadone Maintenance Treatment for Concurrent Opioid Dependence and Cocaine Abuse.
R. S. Schottenfeld, J. R. Pakes, A. Oliveto, D. Ziedonis, and T. R. Kosten (1997)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 54, 713-720
   Abstract »    PDF »
A Controlled Trial of Buprenorphine Treatment for Opioid Dependence.
R. E. Johnson, J. H. Jaffe, and P. J. Fudala (1992)
JAMA 267, 2750-2755
   Abstract »    PDF »
Buprenorphine suppresses cocaine self-administration by rhesus monkeys.
N. Mello, J. Mendelson, M. Bree, and S. Lukas (1989)
Science 245, 859-862
   Abstract »    PDF »


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