CTN-0002: Buprenorphine/Naloxone versus Clonidine for Outpatient Opiate Detoxification

Walter Ling, MD
Lead Investigator

Integrated Substance Abuse Programs
University of California Los Angeles
lwalter@ix.netcom.com

For decades clinicians, have been frustrated by the inability to successfully detoxify opiate addicted patients because opiate-based detoxification, one of the most effective means to achieving that goal, has been unavailable outside the very restrictive confines of narcotic treatment programs. Bup/Nx shows promise as an effective aid for opiate detoxification; however, little data have been generated for the shorter-term use of Bup/Nx for this indication.  Because the diversity of clinics in the CTN provides an unparalleled opportunity to conduct such a clinical endeavor, the utility of buprenorphine/naloxone in short term (13 day) detoxification versus clonidine in an outpatient setting was tested in the CTN.

Primary Findings

A total of 46 of the 157 (29%) outpatients assigned to Bup/Nx condition achieved the treatment success criterion, compared to 4 of the 74 (5%) assigned to clonidine.  The study supports the benefits of Bup/Nx for opioid detoxification in outpatient treatment programs and illustrated important ways in which clinical research can be conducted in community treatment programs.

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Primary Outcomes Article: Ling W, et al. A Multi-Center Randomized Trial of Buprenorphine-Naloxone versus Clonidine for Opioid Detoxification: Findings for the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network. Addiction 2005;100:1090-1110. [get article]

    Node Involvement

    Lead Node(s):

  • Pacific Region Node

  • All Participating Nodes:

  • Delaware Valley Node
  • New York Node
  • Ohio Valley Node
  • Pacific Region Node
  • Western States Node