METHADONE VERSUS BUPRENORPHINE: TO STUDY THE EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COMPARE THE TREATMENT OUTCOME AS IN RETENTION RATE BETWEEN METHADONE AND BUPRENORPHINE TAKING OPIOID DEPENDENT PATIENTS FROM OST CENTRE

Abstract

Opioid dependence is a chronic relapsing disorder with devastating health and social ramifications. ‘Opioid’ is a complex soup which includes drugs containing natural opiates derived from the opium-bearing poppy plant and a range of synthetic and semi-synthetic substances which induce a morphine-like effect. Once trapped in this vicious cycle, it becomes difficult for the patient and treating physician to come out of this complex disorder. Various treatment modalities have been tried, with the focus of this study being Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) in which illegal substances used by patients are substituted with legal medications whose potency is predetermined. In our study, we compared methadone and buprenorphine (BPN) maintenance therapy in 200 opioid-dependent patients (100 each in methadone and BPN groups) already taking treatment from OST centre under the Department of Psychiatry, GMC Amritsar and Civil Hospital, Kapurthala. The precise aim of the interview and the nature of the study were explained to the enrolled patients and patients were reassured about the confidentiality of the information given. In this one-year study, patients were followed up at 3, 6 and 9 months, and compared to find the drug associated with higher patient retention on treatment. Hence, establishing which drug is more effective in treatment adherence. Enhancing treatment retention rates is crucial for improving treatment outcomes as it is an important indicator of favourable treatment outcomes. There is no statistically significant difference in retention rate between the two drugs, however, the methadone group retained a higher number of patients than the BPN group.