DOI: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry_709_26 ISSN: 0019-5545
Fifteen years and beyond on buprenorphine maintenance: A descriptive case series from a community opioid agonist treatment clinic in North India
K Muhammed Jadeer, Hina Bano, Siddharth SarkarABSTRACT
Background:
Long-term outcome data on buprenorphine maintenance treatment beyond 15 years remain scarce, particularly from community-based treatment settings in low- and middle-income countries.
Cases:
We present a case series of five males with opioid use disorder on sublingual buprenorphine for 15 to 19 years at a North India community clinic were reviewed. All remained employed and showed improvement across health, family, social, and financial domains. Three had treatment interruptions, with relapse or withdrawal prompting re-engagement. All wished to continue treatment, and two preferred lifelong maintenance.
Conclusion:
This case series suggests that a sustained recovery is observed among patients who adhere to opioid agonist treatment for a prolonged period.