Comparison of efficacy between buprenorphine and tramadol in the detoxification of opioid (heroin)-dependent subjects

Jatinder Mohan Chawla, MD; Hemraj Pal, MD; Rakesh Lal, MD; Raka Jain, PhD; Nina Schooler, PhD; Yatan Pal Singh Balhara, MD

doi:10.5055/jom.2013.0145

Authors

Jatinder Mohan Chawla, MD Resident Physician, Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.
Hemraj Pal, MD Consultant Psychiatrist (NEEDAS), Associate Medical Director (East) & Hon Senior Lecturer, DHHS, University of Essex, UK.
Rakesh Lal, MD Professor, National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Raka Jain, PhD Professor, National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Nina Schooler, PhD Professor, Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.
Yatan Pal Singh Balhara, MD Assistant Professor, National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.2013.0145

Keywords:

tramadol, Buprenorphine, detoxification, opioids, heroin, randomized

Abstract

Aim/background: Tramadol is a synthetic opiate and a centrally acting weak µ-opioid receptor agonist. The potential advantages of tramadol include ease of administration, low abuse potential, and being nonscheduled. This study compared tramadol and buprenorphine for controlling withdrawal symptoms in patients with opioid dependence syndrome. Methods: Consenting male subjects between 20 and 45 years of age who fulfilled the ICD-10-DCR criteria for opiate dependence syndrome were randomly assigned in a double-blind, double-dummy placebo-controlled trial for detoxification. Those with multiple drug dependence, abnormal cardiac, renal and hepatic functions, psychosis, or organic mental illness were excluded. Assessments included Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS), Objective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (OOWS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Side Effect Check List. Subjects were evaluated daily and study duration was 10 days. Results: Sixty two subjects were enrolled. The mean SOWS and OOWS and VAS were significantly lower in the buprenorphine group on second and third day of detoxification as compared to the tramadol group. Although the retention rate was higher for buprenorphine group throughout the study, when compared with tramadol the difference was not significant on any day. Three subjects in the tramadol group had seizures. Conclusions: Tramadol was found to have limited detoxification efficacy in moderate to severe opioid withdrawal and substantial risk of seizures as compared to buprenorphine. Further studies are warranted to examine its efficacy in mild opioid withdrawal symptoms and its potential use in outpatient settings where its administration advantages may be valuable. Keywords: tramadol, buprenorphine, detoxification, opioids, heroin, randomized DOI:10.5055/jom.2013.0145

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