Levomethadyl in Maintenance Treatment of Opiate Dependence

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Abstract
In a comparison of methadone hydrochloride and levomethadyl acetate (I-alpha-acetylmethadol), 20 male, opiate-dependent subjects were assigned at random to either regimen. Methadone-treated subjects received methadone hydrochloride, 100 mg daily. Levomethadyl patients received doses on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only. Four received low doses (30 to 50 mg), and six received high doses (80 mg). Both regimens were well tolerated. At six months, eight of ten methadone-treated patients and eight of nine levomethadyl-treated patients were undergoing treatment. In patient acceptance, withdrawal symptoms, response to heroin challenges, and number of positive results for urine tests measured for morphine, the two groups were equivalent. Levomethadyl acetate, 80 mg administered three times per week, is equivalent to daily administration of 100 mg of methadone hydrochloride. Large-scale clinical trials of levomethadyl acetate are suggested.

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