Objectives This study is a follow-up to previous research regarding buprenorphine medication-assisted therapy (MAT) in Johnson City, Tennessee. For-profit MAT clinics were surveyed to determine changes in tapering practice patterns and insurance coverage during the last 3 years. Methods Johnson City for-profit MAT clinics; also called office based opioid treatment centers, were surveyed by telephone. Clinic representatives were asked questions regarding patient costs for therapy, insurance coverage, counseling offered onsite, and opportunities for tapering while pregnant. Results All of the MAT clinics representatives indicated that tapering in pregnancy could be considered even though tapering in pregnancy is contrary to current national guidelines. Forty-three percent of the clinics now accept insurance as compared with 0% in the 2016 study. The average weekly cost per visit remained consistent. Conclusions The concept of tapering buprenorphine during pregnancy appears to have become a standard of care for this community, as representatives state it is offered at all of the clinics that were contacted. Representatives from three clinics stated the clinics require tapering, even though national organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Society of Addiction Medicine do not recommend this approach. Although patients who have government or other insurance are now able to obtain buprenorphine with no expense at numerous clinics, the high cost for uninsured patients continues to create an environment conducive to buprenorphine diversion.

Objectives To define the magnitude of buprenorphine presence in the urine drug screens of pregnant women and to assess the presence of illicit buprenorphine use versus the presence of prescribed buprenorphine use. Methods Initial prenatal drug screen results for all pregnant patients in our practice for a 1-year period were analyzed and tabulated. Results Buprenorphine was found in the urine drug screens of 16% of pregnant patients. The presence of buprenorphine was by far the highest for any substance associated with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). We estimate that the exposure to buprenorphine of approximately one-third of individuals in our population is associated with illicit buprenorphine use. Conclusions The high rate of NAS in our region is primarily associated with both illicit and prescribed buprenorphine rather than other substances. Buprenorphine usage at the time that prenatal care is initiated, rather than opiate use at the onset of prenatal care, is the underlying factor that must be addressed if our region is to successfully combat our high rates of NAS.

Objective: This study was completed as a follow up to research regarding buprenorphine Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT) in Johnson City Tennessee for-profit clinics. We wished to determine the practice patterns over the last three years. Methods: Johnson City for-profit Medical Assisted Therapy clinics were called with a telephone survey. When the clinic representative answered the phone, they were asked questions regarding patient costs for therapy, insurance coverage, counseling offered on site, and opportunities for tapering while 20 weeks pregnant. Results: At all the MAT clinics contacted, the representative informed us that tapering in pregnancy could be considered contrary to current national guidelines. 43% of the clinics are now accepting insurance as compared to 0% in the 2016 study. The average weekly cost per visit remained consistent. Conclusion: The concept of tapering buprenorphine during pregnancy appears to have become a standard of care for this community and it is offered at all of the clinics that were contacted, some even require it, even though national organizations such as American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American Society of Addiction Medicine; do not recommend this approach. Patients who have insurance including government funded insurance, are now able to obtain buprenorphine with no out of pocket expense at numerous clinics. The high cost for the uninsured patient continues to create an environment conducive to buprenorphine diversion.

Objectives This study was undertaken to confirm that patient reports on buprenorphine medication-assisted therapy in for-profit buprenorphine clinics in our community were personally costly. We contacted all 17 for-profit clinics in our community and confirmed the patient reports that a significant financial payment of ≤$100 was required for each visit. We also found that tapering of buprenorphine dosage in pregnancy was offered by several of the clinics. Methods A telephone survey was conducted with the 17 for-profit buprenorphine clinics located in the Johnson City, Tennessee area. The clinic representative who answered the telephone was asked questions regarding patient costs for therapy and availability of tapering programs for pregnant women. Results Patient reports that the for-profit clinics are costly were confirmed. None of the clinics accepted insurance reimbursement of any type. The most common weekly costs were $100 per visit. A majority of clinics offered biweekly or monthly visits at significantly increased rates. Clinic representatives stated that a majority of clinics would consider buprenorphine tapering programs for pregnant women. Conclusions The high cost of for-profit clinics is a barrier for patient access to medication-assisted therapy with buprenorphine. Tapering of buprenorphine dosage in pregnant women has penetrated buprenorphine management practice in our community. Further research is needed to determine whether elimination of cost barrier would have a positive effect on the rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome.

No description available.

Opioid abuse and addiction affects more than 2.4 million people in the United States. Medication assisted treatment (MAT), in combination with counseling, is recognized as the most effective treatment for patients with opioid dependence and abuse. Although MAT is considered the most effective treatment, previous research has found clinically significant weight gain with methadone. The purpose of this study was to determine if hedonic eating behaviors, sugar cravings, and addictive like eating was related to weight gain in opioid addicted patients receiving methadone and buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone™). Hedonic eating behaviors were measured using three validated surveys. Following survey collection, a chart review was completed to determine weight changes over time. One hundred twenty surveys were completed and 113 were analyzed. No differences were found between the medication groups in terms of mean age, weight at entry, BMI at entry, race, sex, and Hepatitis C status. A subset of 39 participants was analyzed for weight changes during treatment. There were no differences in food addiction scores, hedonic eating behaviors, and food cravings between the medication groups. We found significant weight gain in patients receiving methadone and no weight changes for those receiving Suboxone™. Weight gain in methadone maintenance does not appear to be related to addictive like eating, food craving, or hedonic eating. This research suggests that weight gain seen in methadone maintenance for opioid addiction treatment is related to something other than hedonic eating behaviors. Clinically significant weight gain should be considered when prescribing methadone for opioid addiction.

Treatment with buprenorphine represents a promising alternative for pregnant opioid addicts but there is a need to understand potential effects on nervous system development. We previously showed effects of perinatal exposure to buprenorphine on axonal caliber and myelination in 26-day-old rat corpus callosum. These changes, detected at the end of rapid brain myelination and accompanied by earlier oligodendrocyte maturation, suggested interference with mechanisms coordinating axonal growth and myelination. To better understand buprenorphine actions and to establish whether these effects extend to the spinal cord, we analyzed the corpus callosum and corticospinal tract at 16 days of age, just before the peak of myelination. Our results point to an important role of the opioid system in regulating early axo-glial interactions coordinating axonal growth and myelination. Moreover, in addition to reinforcing previous findings in the brain, we showed for the first time that these effects are also exerted in the spinal cord.

Opioid dependence is a complex and persistent disorder with a high mortality rate and severe impact on health and social situation. It is associated with much harm, including the transmission of blood-borne bacterial and viral infections, self-harm, traumatic injury and drug overdose. All of these harms carry a risk of death, and accordingly, mortality rates in opioid-dependent people are many times higher than those in the general population of the same age and sex. One of the more commonly used strategies for reducing the risks of opioid dependence is the provision of maintenance treatment. In Australia, available maintenance treatments include methadone, buprenorphine, oral naltrexone, and the unregistered sustained-release formulation of naltrexone, naltrexone implants. This thesis reports on a range of data collections and study designs to investigate the levels, predictors and causes of mortality in opioid-dependent persons entering methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone maintenance treatment in Australia. The studies used data linkage to examine mortality rates and causes of death in a longitudinal cohort of the early entrants to the NSW methadone program, examined the predictors of mortality (particularly the impact of methadone and buprenorphine treatment) using survival analysis in a longitudinal cohort study, compared national mortality rates between methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone maintenance treatments in a cross-sectional analytic study, and used a small case series of coronial cases to examine whether death from opioid overdose was possible in a recipient of a naltrexone implant. This thesis demonstrates that mortality rates as a whole and from particular causes of death are many times higher in Australian opioid-dependent subjects than the general population, exposure to methadone or buprenorphine maintenance treatment significantly reduced mortality in a sample of opioid-dependent subjects, naltrexone treatment appears to have higher mortality than both methadone and buprenorphine maintenance treatments, and fatal opioid overdose while in receipt of sustained-release naltrexone treatment is possible. These results support longer retention in and repeated access to methadone and buprenorphine maintenance treatments in order to reduce mortality in opioid-dependent people, and greater regulation of the access to and more rigorous monitoring of the mortality associated with oral and sustained-release naltrexone maintenance treatments.

Opioid dependence is a complex and persistent disorder with a high mortality rate and severe impact on health and social situation. It is associated with much harm, including the transmission of blood-borne bacterial and viral infections, self-harm, traumatic injury and drug overdose. All of these harms carry a risk of death, and accordingly, mortality rates in opioid-dependent people are many times higher than those in the general population of the same age and sex. One of the more commonly used strategies for reducing the risks of opioid dependence is the provision of maintenance treatment. In Australia, available maintenance treatments include methadone, buprenorphine, oral naltrexone, and the unregistered sustained-release formulation of naltrexone, naltrexone implants. This thesis reports on a range of data collections and study designs to investigate the levels, predictors and causes of mortality in opioid-dependent persons entering methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone maintenance treatment in Australia. The studies used data linkage to examine mortality rates and causes of death in a longitudinal cohort of the early entrants to the NSW methadone program, examined the predictors of mortality (particularly the impact of methadone and buprenorphine treatment) using survival analysis in a longitudinal cohort study, compared national mortality rates between methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone maintenance treatments in a cross-sectional analytic study, and used a small case series of coronial cases to examine whether death from opioid overdose was possible in a recipient of a naltrexone implant. This thesis demonstrates that mortality rates as a whole and from particular causes of death are many times higher in Australian opioid-dependent subjects than the general population, exposure to methadone or buprenorphine maintenance treatment significantly reduced mortality in a sample of opioid-dependent subjects, naltrexone treatment appears to have higher mortality than both methadone and buprenorphine maintenance treatments, and fatal opioid overdose while in receipt of sustained-release naltrexone treatment is possible. These results support longer retention in and repeated access to methadone and buprenorphine maintenance treatments in order to reduce mortality in opioid-dependent people, and greater regulation of the access to and more rigorous monitoring of the mortality associated with oral and sustained-release naltrexone maintenance treatments.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-02-16Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:16:45Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 giordano_t_me_botfm.pdf: 238757 bytes, checksum: e3820a3dc04e1e4468920c289a1608db (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / A via de administração de um fármaco pode influenciar sobejamente na latência e duração do efeito analgésico. Objetivou-se avaliar a sedação e a analgesia de 0,01 mg/kg de buprenorfina administrada pelas vias intravenosa (IV), intramuscular (IM), transmucosa (TM) ou subcutânea (SC) em gatas submetidas à ovariohisterectomia. Cem gatas 100 de diversas raças, com idade de quatro meses a seis anos de idade foram divididas de forma aleatória em 4 grupos de acordo com as vias de administração citadas anteriormente. Os animais foram avaliados quanto a presença dor pós-operatória e sedação antes e 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, e 24 h após o término do procedimento cirúrgico, por meio das escalas analógica visual interativa e dinâmica (EAVID) e descritiva simples (EDS). Realizou-se analgesia resgate com 0,02 mg/kg de buprenorfina IM quando o escore de dor foi igual ou superior a 50% da EDS ou EAVID. Para um segundo resgate analgésico foi administrado 4,4 mg/kg de carprofeno SC. Os dados paramétricos foram analisados pela ANOVA, seguida do teste de Tukey e os não paramétricos pelo teste de Kruskal-Wallis, seguido do teste de Dunn. Diferenças ao longo do tempo dentro de cada grupo foram avaliadas pelo teste de Friedman, seguido do teste de Dunn. Imediatamente após cirurgia os escores de sedação da EAVID e EDS aumentaram significantemente quando comparado ao pré-operatório, reduzindo para zero 24 horas após cirurgia. Para os escores de dor da EAVID não se observou diferença significante entre GTM e GSC e entre GIM e GIV. Os valores de GTM foram significantemente maiores quando comparados à GIV à 1h e à GIM às 3,4,6,8 e 12 h. Os valores de GSC foram significantemente maiores quando comparados à GIV às 2 h e à GIM às 2,3,4,8,12 e 24 h. No total, quatro animais do GIM (16%), seis do GIV (24%), treze do GSC (52%) e dezessete do GTM (68%) necessitaram de analgesia... / The route of administration of a drug may influence the onset and duration of analgesic effect. The aim of this study was to investigate the degree of sedation and analgesia of 0.01 mg/kg of buprenorphine administered by intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), transmucosal (TM) or subcutaneous (SC) route in cats subjected to ovariohysterectomy. One hundred cats from different breeds, aging from four months to six years of age were randomly divided into four groups according to the above routes of administration. The animals were evaluated for the presence of postoperative pain and sedation before and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h after the surgical procedure, using dynamic interactive visual analogue scale (DIVAS) and simple descriptive scale (SDS). Rescue analgesia was performed with 0.02 mg/kg of buprenorphine IM when the pain score was more than 50% of the SDS or DIVAS. A second rescue analgesia was performed with 4.4 mg/kg of carprofen SC. The parametric data were analyzed by ANOVA followed by Tukey´s test and the non-parametric data by Kruskal-Wallis, followed by Dunn´s test. Differences over time within each group were evaluated by Friedman´s test, followed by the Dunn´s test. The SDS and DIVAS sedation scores increased significantly immediately after surgery when compared to pre-operative values, reducing to zero, 24 h after surgery. There was no significant difference for the DIVAS pain scores between GTM and GSC and between GIM and GIV. The values of GTM were significantly greater when compared to the GIV at 1h and to GIM at 3, 4, 6, 8 and 12 h. The values of GSC were significantly higher when compared to GIV at 2 h and to the GIM at 2, 3, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h. In total, four animals from GIM (16%), six from GIV (24%), thirteen from GSC (52%) and seventeen from GTM (68%) needed rescue analgesia. The total number of rescue analgesic in GTM was significantly higher than... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)