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Rate of Withdrawal and Expectation

Edward C. Senay, MD; Walter Dorus, MD; William Thornton, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1977;34(3):361-367.

Abstract
• One hundred twenty-seven successfully methadone-hydrochloride-maintained patients were randomly assigned to one of the following four groups and studied for 30 weeks: (1) known maintenance-patients were maintained on methadone under open conditions; (2) blind maintenance-patients were maintained on methadone under double-blind conditions; (3) rapid withdrawal-patients were withdrawn under double-blind conditions at a rate of 10% of initial dose per week; (4) gradual withdrawal-patients were withdrawn under double-blind conditions at a rate of 3% of initial dose per week. Differences in dropout rates, illicit drug use, symptoms scores, and requests for study interruption indicate that withdrawal from methadone maintenance should be carried out at approximately 3% of initial dose per week. Better patient preparation also is indicated to reduce the effects of expectation.

Author Affiliations
Faye Goldberg

From the Department of Psychiatry, The University of Chicago. Dr Thornton is now with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois, Chicago.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Nov 2, 1976.

Reprint requests to Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, 950 E 59th St, Chicago, IL 60637 (Dr Senay).

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