Time to Detox: A Patient-Centered Comparison of Length of Detoxification Treatment and Time to Naltrexone Maintenance Therapy in Opioid-Dependent Individuals

Opioid dependent individuals will be recruited for participation in the study. Upon recruitment into the randomized trial each participant will be started on an induction dosage of medication intended to suppress withdrawal (either buprenorphine-naloxone, morphine, or tramadol). Participants will remain on the induction dose for at least 24 hrs. Severity of withdrawal will be assessed twice a day using the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) and the Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS). Each morning, participants will be given the option to progress on the tapering protocol (see below for individual regimens). Time to complete detoxification and initiation of naltrexone treatment will be measured. At completion of the study each participant will complete a 7-iten Detoxification Treatment Satisfaction questionnaire.

Taper Schedule Dosing Buprenorphine-Naloxone (Suboxone): Patients will get 4mg when withdrawal symptoms start. Patients can receive the first 8mg dose as early as 6hrs later, and at that point will start on an 8mg twice-a-day schedule. Each morning the patient will be assessed regarding their ability to progress to the next stage of the taper. Buprenorphine-naloxone will be tapered 2mg/day.

Tramadol: At enrollment the patients will receive a 100mg dose and can receive another 100mg every 6 hrs for 24 hrs. Each morning the patient will be assessed regarding their ability to progress to the next stage of the taper. Patients will then be tapered on the following schedule 100mg every 8 hrs, 50mg every 6 hrs, 50mg every 8 hrs, 50mg ever 12 hrs, and one final daily dose of 50mg.

Morphine: Patients receive 30mg every 4 hours for 24 hrs from when withdrawal symptoms start. Each morning the patient will be assessed regarding their ability to progress to the next stage of the taper. Patients will then be tapered on the following schedule: 30 mg every 6 hours, 30 mg every 8 hours, 30 mg every 12 hours, and one final daily 30 mg dose.

As Needed Medications: Patients in all groups will have access to the following medications as needed gabapentin 400mg every 8 hrs, loperamide 2mg every 3 hrs, odansetron 4mg every 6 hrs, ibuprofen 600mg ever 8 hrs, and hydroxyzine 25-50mg nightly.