In Finland, buprenorphine (Subutex) is the most abused opioid. In order to curb this problem, many treatment centres transferred ("forced transfer") their buprenorphine patients to the buprenorphine plus naloxone (Suboxone) combination product in late 2003. Data from a retrospective study involving five different treatment centers, examining the effects of switching patients to Suboxone.

Most patients switched to Suboxone at the same dose of buprenorphine that they had been receiving as Subutex. The majority of these patients (71.9%) were maintained at the same dose of Suboxone throughout the 4-week study period. During the first 4 weeks, 50% of the patients reported adverse events and at the four month time point, 26.6% reported adverse events.

Researchers concluded that when patients are transferred from high doses (> 22 mg) of buprenorphine to the combination product, dose adjustments may be necessary especially in the later phase of the treatment.

Keywords: Buprenorphine, Naloxone, Opioid, Opioid-Related Disorders, Drug Therapy

Avain-/asiasanat: buprenorfiini, naloksoni, opioidi, opioidiriippuvuus, huumehoito