[Buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid dependence: a study on generic substitution conducted in community pharmacies].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the evolution of buprenorphine prescription form characteristics before and after the application of a measure of the French Social Security system aimed to encourage the use of generic drugs.

METHOD: All buprenorphine prescription forms issued to sixty-two patients subjected to follow-up in 6 community pharmacies were analysed between October 2007 and February 2008.

RESULTS: Patients maintained on Subutex during the whole follow-up were more numerous (n=39), younger, and received a higher daily dose of buprenorphine (10.5 mg versus 7.8 mg), compared to patients maintained on generic (n=13). For patients receiving again Subutex after have been treated by a generic (n=10), daily doses remained unchanged.

CONCLUSION: It seems that the patients stabilized on generic present less serious pharmacodependence and less psychiatric comorbidity than those maintained on Subutex. Substituting a buprenorphine speciality with another should not induce any treatment unsettlement.