Professional paper

Choice of substitution therapy in HIV positive opiate addicts

Daniela Bundalo-Vrbanac ; Department of Psychiatry, KBC Sestre milosrdnice
Ivana Sindik ; Department of Psychiatry, KBC Sestre milosrdnice
Slavko Sakoman ; Department of Psychiatry, KBC Sestre milosrdnice

Abstract

Abstract – Croatia is a country that, despite the »war« epidemic of opiate
addiction, has continuously had a very low incidence of the disease and the
proportion of seropositive iv. opiate addicts is very low and has shown a stable
trend (0.5% in 2009 and 2010). N.N. (30) was raised in an urban dysfunctional
family. He has been an intravenous heroin addict since he was
16. Before hospital admission, he was on maintenance therapy with methadone.
HIV and hepatitis C infection were diagnosed one year ago. The patient
was referred for hospital treatment due to the indicated transfer to
buprenorphine therapy. When applying the transfer from high methadone
doses to buprenorphine there is a risk of severe withdrawal syndrome. In
order to ensure and facilitate the transfer, a standardized method was developed
at the Department: it shortens the time and reduces the transfer risk
from high methadone doses to buprenorphine. The transfer from methadone
to buprenorphine is indicated in HIV – positive opiate addicts because
of significantly less adverse drug interactions in the case of antiviral therapy
implementation.

Keywords

antiviral therapy; buprenorphine substitution; HIV positive opiate addicts

Hrčak ID:

101330

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/101330

Publication date:

21.12.2012.

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