Pain is not associated with worse office-based buprenorphine treatment outcomes

Subst Abus. 2012;33(4):361-5. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2011.638734.

Abstract

Physical pain is common among individuals seeking treatment for opioid dependence. Pain may negatively impact addiction treatment. The authors prospectively studied opioid-dependent individuals initiating office-based buprenorphine treatment, comparing buprenorphine treatment outcomes (treatment retention and opioid use) among participants with and without pain (baseline pain or persistent pain). Among 82 participants, 60% reported baseline pain and 38% reported persistent pain. Overall, treatment retention was 56% and opioid use decreased from 89% to 26% over 6 months. In multivariable analyses, the authors found no association between pain and buprenorphine treatment outcomes. Opioid-dependent individuals with and without pain can achieve similar success with buprenorphine treatment.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Buprenorphine / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Medication Adherence / psychology
  • Medication Adherence / statistics & numerical data
  • Middle Aged
  • Narcotic Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Opiate Substitution Treatment / methods
  • Opiate Substitution Treatment / psychology*
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / complications
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / psychology
  • Pain / complications
  • Pain / drug therapy*
  • Pain / psychology
  • Primary Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • Buprenorphine