Abstract

Background: Opioid use is a serious global
problem and the problem is increasing over years.
Buprenorphine has been approved as a substitution
therapy in Nepal, but there are few long-term
studies of its effectiveness.Aim:This study aimed
to assess the 1-year efficacy of buprenorphine and
reasons for dropout.


Materials and Methods: This
study was conducted at Western Regional Hospital,
Pokhara from 29th August 2016 to 31st August 2017.
The Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment Program
(BMT) was started on 29th August 2016 and all the
clients enrolled in the program within 1 year of
starting BMT were included in the study.


Results: 75% of the enrolled clients dropped out in 1-year
period.


Conclusion: Adherence to Buprenorphine was
better in flexible dose adjustment group. Combination
of buprenorphine and psychosocial treatment would
have been related with better outcome.

Keywords: Buprenorphine Maintenance