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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2020, 22, N2 (pages: 23 - 28)

Buprenorphine for the treatment of alcohol dependence: 14 attempts, 3 successful cases

Ulmer A., and Meinhold C.

Summary: Background: Alcohol dependent patients can be treated very well with the opioid Dihydrocodeine (DHC). We published this in 2012. But in some cases, a DHC treatment fails because of the side effects, especially itching and constipation. Buprenorphine is better in this regard. It is also less dangerous to life in case of an overdose. Methods: We have prescribed it in 14 patients because of alcohol dependence. Results: We treated 3 female and 11 male patients. Their age was 28 – 64 years. The dependence had lasted for 4 – 30 years (mean 12 ± 8.3). Patients had undergone 165 medically supported withdrawals (mean 11.8 ± 18.2), 99 of them in a hospital. They also had initiated 22 “therapies” in addiction clinics (mean 1.6 ± 1.5). 4 of the 14 had a history with opioid dependence, years ago. We didn't reach sustained success in 11 patients. Buprenorphine prescription was finished after mean 11.1 months. In three patients, the treatment is experienced as very successful and still ongoing. Conclusions: Buprenorphine can serve as a very effective medication for the treatment of alcohol dependence in singular cases.