Comparison of psychiatric disorders in addicted patients treated with buprenorphine, methadone, and opium tincture in Iran

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to comparing the complications (depression, anxiety, sleep disorders and sexual dysfunction) of buprenorphine, methadone and opium tincture as an alternative drug treatment in patients referred to the National Center for Addiction Studies of Tehran during 2020–2021. This cross-sectional study was concocted on 197 patients referred to the National Center for Addiction Studies of Tehran who were treated with one of the alternative treatments of opioids buprenorphine (n = 24), methadone (n = 116), and opium tincture (n = 57) during 2020–2021. Three questionnaires were used to assess the side effects of drugs including Anxiety and Depression Hospital Scales (HADS), AIS (Athens insomnia scale) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). Data were analyzed using Stata 14.0. The multinomial logistic regression model was used in order to compare complications in the three groups and adjusted odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated. Results: The mean age in the buprenorphine, methadone and opium tincture groups were 46.80 ± 9.90, 48.31 ± 13.33 and 55.30 ± 10.34 years, respectively. The numbers of men were 17 (70.80), 90 (77.60), and 50 (78.70); respectively. Multinomial logistic regression model showed OR = 0.73 (95% CI 0.61–0.88) for anxiety in the methadone group in compared to buprenorphine. Likewise, OR = 1.22 (95% CI 1.001–1.48) and OR = 1.34 (95% CI 1.10–1.63) was observed for sleep disorder in the methadone and opium tincture groups in compared to buprenorphine; respectively. Conclusions: Sleep disturbance in buprenorphine group is less than opium tincture and methadone. Also, anxiety in the methadone group was lower than the buprenorphine, however, there was no significant difference between the three groups in term of sexual function and depression. In addition to control measures for sleep disorders in receiving methadone and buprenorphine, the cohort studies with a higher sample size are recommended.