Heroin detoxification. A comparison of propoxyphene and methadone
F. S. Tennant Jr, B. A. Russell, S. K. Casas and R. N. Bleich
Propoxyphene napsylate and methadone hydrochloride were each administered
under double-blind conditions to 36 outpatients for 21-day heroin
detoxification. The initial dosage was 24 mg/day for methadone
hydrochloride and 800 mg/day for propoxyphene napsylate. At these dosages,
methadone more effectively suppressed the opiate-withdrawal syndrome, and
patients remained in treatment longer in the methadone group (P greater
than .05). In regard to heroin abstinence, however, results were not
statistically significant in either group, as indicated by the number of
patients whose urine was positive for morphine on admission and became
negative during treatment, and the number who had morphine-negative urine
at the conclusion of 21-day treatment. A one-month follow-up of patients
showed that more patients given methadone had entered long-term medical
maintenance while more patients given propoxyphene were heroin-abstinent.
This study indicates that 21-day heroin detoxification, regardless of
chemotherapeutic agent, yields a low rate of heroin abstinence.
