Effects of buprenorphine/naloxone in opioid-dependent humans

RATIONALE: Buprenorphine is a partial mu opioid agonist under development as a sublingual (SL) medication for opioid dependence treatment in the United States. Because buprenorphine may be abused, tablets combining buprenorphine with naloxone in a 4:1 ratio have been developed to reduce that risk. Low doses of injected buprenorphine/naloxone have been tested in opioid-dependent subjects, but higher doses (more than 2 mg of either medication) and direct comparisons to SL buprenorphine/naloxone have not been examined. OBJECTIVES: To assess and compare the effects of intramuscular (i.m.) versus SL buprenorphine/naloxone in opioid-dependent volunteers. METHODS: Opioid-dependent volunteers were maintained on 40 mg per day of oral hydromorphone while on a residential research ward. After safety testing in two pilot subjects, participants (n = 8) were tested with both i.m. and SL buprenorphine/naloxone (1/0.25, 2/0.5, 4/1, 8/2, 16/4 mg); i.m. hydromorphone (10 mg) and naloxone (0.25 mg); both i.m. and SL buprenorphine alone (8 mg); and placebo. Test sessions were twice per week; dosing was double-blind. RESULTS: Intramuscular buprenorphine/naloxone produced dose-related increases on indices of opioid antagonist effects. Effects were consistent with naloxone-precipitated withdrawal, and were short-lived. As withdrawal effects dissipated, euphoric opioid agonist effects from buprenorphine did not appear. Sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone produced neither opioid agonist nor antagonist effects. CONCLUSIONS: Intramuscular injection of buprenorphine/naloxone precipitates withdrawal in opioid dependent persons; therefore, the combination has a low abuse potential by the injection route in this population. Sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone by tablet is well tolerated in opioid dependent subjects, and shows neither adverse effects (i.e., precipitated withdrawal) nor a high abuse potential (i.e., opioid agonist effects).