Comparison of Lapse Rate in Drug Dependent Patients in 2 Methods of Methadone Maintenance Treatment and Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment.

BACKGROUND

Lapse has been one of the major challenges in the treatment of drug dependence sometimes leading to its relapse.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the lapse rate in drug dependent patients as for the 2 methods of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and buprenorphine maintenance treatment (BMT) in Yazd city.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 626 female and male patients who had referred to 5 SUD treatment centers in Yazd and had been treated with methadone and buprenorphine maintenance were studied. Participants were divided into 2 groups of MMT and BMT and were evaluated based on lapse within 6 months.

RESULTS

In this study, 60.9% of patients were treated with methadone but the rest were treated with buprenorphine. Overall, 33.1% of patients lapsed (35.2% for methadone and 29.8%for buprenorphine). Lapse in methadone treatment was correlated with age, occupational status, and duration of treatment (P < .05); it failed to correlated with any other demographic and clinical characteristics (P > .05). Lapse rate in buprenorphine treatment was also related to marital status and the drug used (P < .05). The mean dose of buprenorphine consumed showed no significant relationship with lapse (P > .05). The results demonstrated that given the low dose, lapse stood higher in the buprenorphine group than the methadone group; however, as to high dose, the buprenorphine group showed lower lapse than the other group.

CONCLUSIONS

In regard with the high rate of lapse, it is recommended to consider the factors related to the 2 methods of treatments, and provide counseling and training programs to lower lapse in the patients.Ethics Committee (REC) approval code: IR.SSU.REC.1394.158.