Levomethadyl Acetate versus Buprenorphine versus Methadone for Opioid Dependence

This chapter provides a summary of a landmark study on substance use disorders. Which of the following is most effective for treatment of opioid dependence: levomethadyl acetate, buprenorphine, high-dose methadone, or low-dose methadone? Starting with that question, it describes the basics of the study, including funding, study location, who was studied, how many patients, study design, study intervention, follow-up, endpoints, results, and criticism and limitations. The chapter briefly reviews other relevant studies and information, discusses implications, and concludes with a relevant clinical case. The study demonstrates that buprenorphine, high-dose methadone, and levomethadyl acetate are equally effective in the treatment of opiate use disorder. All three treatments are significantly more effective than low-dose methadone.