Buprenorphine is more effective than clonidine or lofexidine, and may have advantages over methadone, for the management of opioid withdrawal.

Gowing L, Ali R, White JM

Published Online:

July 8, 2009

Dependence on opioid drugs (heroin, methadone) is a major health and social issue in many societies. Managed withdrawal from opioid dependence is an essential first step for drug-free treatment. This review of trials found that the drug buprenorphine is more effective than clonidine or lofexidine in reducing the signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal, retaining patients in withdrawal treatment, and supporting the completion of treatment. There is no significant difference in the incidence of adverse effects, but patients treated with buprenorphine may be less likely to drop-out due to adverse effects than is the case with clonidine or lofexidine. There is limited evidence comparing buprenorphine with methadone, but it appears that completion of withdrawal may be more likely with buprenorphine and withdrawal symptoms may resolve more quickly with buprenorphine.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

Managed withdrawal is a necessary step prior to drug-free treatment or as the end point of substitution treatment.

Objectives:

To assess the effectiveness of interventions involving the use of buprenorphine to manage opioid withdrawal, for withdrawal signs and symptoms, completion of withdrawal and adverse effects.

Search strategy:

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library, Issue 3, 2008), MEDLINE (January 1966 to July 2008), EMBASE (January 1985 to 2008 Week 31), PsycINFO (1967 to 7 August 2008) and reference lists of articles.

Selection criteria:

Randomised controlled trials of interventions involving the use of buprenorphine to modify the signs and symptoms of withdrawal in participants who were primarily opioid dependent. Comparison interventions involved reducing doses of methadone, alpha2-adrenergic agonists, symptomatic medications or placebo, or different buprenorphine-based regimes.

Data collection and analysis:

One author assessed studies for inclusion and methodological quality, and undertook data extraction. Inclusion decisions and the overall process was confirmed by consultation between all authors.

Main results:

Twenty-two studies involving 1736 participants were included. The major comparisons were with methadone (5 studies) and clonidine or lofexidine (12 studies). Five studies compared different rates of buprenorphine dose reduction.

Severity of withdrawal is similar for withdrawal managed with buprenorphine and withdrawal managed with methadone, but withdrawal symptoms may resolve more quickly with buprenorphine. It appears that completion of withdrawal treatment may be more likely with buprenorphine relative to methadone (RR 1.18; 95% CI 0.93 to 1.49, P = 0.18) but more studies are required to confirm this.

Relative to clonidine or lofexidine, buprenorphine is more effective in ameliorating the symptoms of withdrawal, patients treated with buprenorphine stay in treatment for longer (SMD 0.92, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.27, P < 0.001), and are more likely to complete withdrawal treatment (RR 1.64; 95% CI 1.31 to 2.06, P < 0.001). At the same time there is no significant difference in the incidence of adverse effects, but drop-out due to adverse effects may be more likely with clonidine.

Authors' conclusions:

Buprenorphine is more effective than clonidine or lofexidine for the management of opioid withdrawal. Buprenorphine may offer some advantages over methadone, at least in inpatient settings, in terms of quicker resolution of withdrawal symptoms and possibly slightly higher rates of completion of withdrawal.

This record should be cited as:

Gowing L, Ali R, White JM. Buprenorphine for the management of opioid withdrawal. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD002025. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002025.pub4

Assessed as up to date:

November 18, 2008

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Primary Review Group:

Drugs and Alcohol Group

Health topics:

Tobacco, drugs, & alcohol dependence > Opioids, opiates, heroin > Dextoxification

Cochrane Summaries^beta

Independent high-quality evidence for health care decision making

Buprenorphine is more effective than clonidine or lofexidine, and may have advantages over methadone, for the management of opioid withdrawal.

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