Buprenorphine in opiate withdrawal: a comparison with clonidine.

Clinical efficacy of buprenorphine in controlling withdrawal symptoms was compared against clonidine among 44 opiate dependent males. Subjective and objective withdrawal symptoms were assessed by withdrawal rating scales daily for 10 days. The subjects were randomly assigned to fixed dose schedule of either buprenorphine (0.6-1.2 mg per day, sublingually) or clonidine (0.3-0.9 mg per day, oral) for 10 days. Buprenorphine was found superior to clonidine in alleviating most of the subjective and objective opiate withdrawal symptoms. Subjective symptoms declined earlier among the subjects receiving buprenorphine. No untoward side-effects of buprenorphine were noticed.