Abstract
A six-month interval (baseline) during which methadone doses above 99 mg required individual approval by the clinic's physician was compared with the subsequent 16-month period in which a policy of patient-regulated methadone dosing with no preset upper limit was implemented. During the later phase, all patients were required to remain at each selected dose for a minimum of four days, and standard compliance-based take-home dosing procedures were followed. For patients in the study sample (n=57), the daily maximum methadone dose increased from 165 mg during baseline to 300 mg during the self-regulation period, while their average daily methadone dose increased from 76.84 mg to 80.04 mg (W=473, n=57, p=0.01). Monthly percent of opiate-positive urine specimens decreased significantly from 5.26% during baseline to 1.64% during the self-regulated dose period (W=169, n=57, p<0.01), and use of other drugs remained unchanged. No patient failed to show possession of recalled take-home doses, and no instances of liquid methadone diversion were reported by law enforcement agencies in the area.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 225-230 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2001 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Dosing
- Methadone
- Opiates
- Self-regulation
- Titration
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Phychiatric Mental Health
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health