Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the demographic, infectious disease status and clinical severity of dependence among heroin users compared to non-prescribed opioid analgesic users in a group of opioid dependent young adults seeking treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Aims: The 10-site Prescription Opioid Addiction Treatment Study, conducted in the NIDA Clinical Trials Network, examined different lengths of buprenorphine-naloxone (bup-nx) plus medical management, with or without additional counseling, for patients dependent upon prescription opioids. Among patients (N=360) receiving 12 weeks of bup-nx stabilization, 49% achieved successful opioid use outcomes at week 12. The aim of this secondary analysis is to examine the ability to predict outcome (and thus potentially alter the treatment) based on early (weeks 1–4) treatment response. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Aims: Buprenorphine ingestion can cause life-threatening poisoning in young children. Previous reports have found that film formulations are associated with lower pediatric exposure rates than tablet formulations. The purpose of this study is to determine whether these relationships are stable over time. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the demographic, infectious disease status and clinical severity of dependence among heroin users compared to non-prescribed opioid analgesic users in a group of opioid dependent young adults seeking treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Aims: Prescription opioid (PO) dependence frequently co-occurs with chronic pain. Prior studies did not find poorer buprenorphine-naloxone (BUP-NLX) outcomes in chronic pain patients, but more dynamic indicators of chronic pain may impact treatment. We hypothesized that greater pain volatility would predict opioid use during BUP-NLX taper in adults with PO dependence and chronic pain. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Aims: Prescription opioid (PO) dependence frequently co-occurs with chronic pain. Prior studies did not find poorer buprenorphine-naloxone (BUP-NLX) outcomes in chronic pain patients, but more dynamic indicators of chronic pain may impact treatment. We hypothesized that greater pain volatility would predict opioid use during BUP-NLX taper in adults with PO dependence and chronic pain. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

(Source: Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Weekly)

(Source: Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Weekly)

CONCLUSIONS: Buprenorphine/naloxone was well tolerated in most adolescent patients, besides clinically nonsignificant liver enzyme elevations. Psychotropic medications may have been associated with the liver enzyme changes early in the course of treatment. Nevertheless, given the relatively small number of adolescents studied to date with buprenorphine/naloxone, additional studies evaluating liver enzymes in young patients receiving buprenorphine/naloxone (and no other psychotropics) are needed.
PMID: 25490611 [PubMed – in process] (Source: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse)

CONCLUSIONS: Buprenorphine/naloxone was well tolerated in most adolescent patients, besides clinically nonsignificant liver enzyme elevations. Psychotropic medications may have been associated with the liver enzyme changes early in the course of treatment. Nevertheless, given the relatively small number of adolescents studied to date with buprenorphine/naloxone, additional studies evaluating liver enzymes in young patients receiving buprenorphine/naloxone (and no other psychotropics) are needed.
PMID: 25490611 [PubMed – in process] (Source: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse)