A Randomised Trial of the Cost Effectiveness of Buprenorphine as an Alternative to Methadone Maintenance Treatment for Heroin Dependence in a Primary Care Setting
PharmacoEconomicsPublished 1 January 2005
Anthony Harris, Elena Gospodarevskaya, Alison Ritter
Citations84
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score1.88
SNIP1.73
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TL;DR
Although some of the results suggest that methadone may have a cost advantage, it is difficult to infer from the trial data that offering buprenorphine as an alternative would have a significant effect on total costs or outcomes.
Abstract
The trial found no significant differences in costs or outcomes between methadone and buprenorphine maintenance in this particular setting. Although some of the results suggest that methadone may have a cost advantage, it is difficult to infer from the trial data that offering buprenorphine as an alternative would have a significant effect on total costs or outcomes. The point estimates of costs and outcomes suggest that buprenorphine may have an advantage in those initiating therapy. The confidence intervals were wide, however, and the likelihood of net benefits from substituting one treatment for another was close to 50%.
Keywords
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