Citation

Soyka M. Suchtmedizin in Forschung und Praxis 2008; 10(1): 7-27.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Safety issues play an essential role in substitution treatment of opioid dependence. While there is little doubt that substitution treatment has resulted in marked improvement of mortality and morbidity of opioid dependent patients there are special safety concerns that will be adressed in this review. Main reasons for mortality in opioid users are still fatal overdose, followed by suicide and somatic disorders ( HIV, hepatitis), to a lesser extend trauma. Naturalistic studies indicate an annual mortality of appr 1%. Clinical charactaristics of patients at risk for overdose/death are outlined in this review. In methadone maintenance overdose is most common in the induction phase. Letal doses are higher in opioid naïve patients. An improvement of morbidity and mortality in methadone treatment can be achievement by following traetment recommendations and guidelines.Pharmacological interactions may be less in R-methadone (levomethadone). © ecomed Medizin, Verlagsgruppe Hüthig Jehle Rehm GmbH, Landsberg.

Language: de

Keywords

Safety; human; suicide; Mortality; mortality; drug use; risk assessment; amphetamine; morbidity; review; death; opiate; morphine; legal aspect; drug dependence; demography; diamorphine; methadone; Methadone; methadone treatment; Human immunodeficiency virus; buprenorphine; Opioid dependence; levomethadone