Pattern of consecutive urinalysis results for patients on take-home buprenorphinenaloxone in India: Do patients really take it at home

摘要

International experience suggests that buprenorphinenaloxone combination can be misused and diverted. Little is known about the non-adherence to take-home buprenorphinenloxone in India. A retrospective pilot study of 100 consecutive urine samples of heroin-dependent patients on take-home buprenorphinenaloxone medication was carried out. Urinalysis was done by thin layer chromatography, using a modified hydrolysis method. The mean daily dose for prescribed buprenorphine was 7.93 ± 2.73 mgday, dispensed once or twice a week. Urinalysis results revealed that 30 of samples tested negative for prescribed drug despite being on regular take-home buprenorphinenaloxone medication. Nearly half of these patients also tested positive for a non-prescribed drug. The results and trends of urinalysis results carry important clinical implications and urges for a close monitoring for non-adherence and diversion of take-home medication.