Propoxyphene napsylate maintenance treatment for narcotic dependence: a non-methadone model

One hundred and seventy eight heroin addicts entered propoxyphene napsylate (PN) maintenance. Patients attended a general medical clinic twice each week and took home a three- to four-day supply of PN, to be taken in doses of 300 to 400 mg three or four times per day. Over a 21-month period, subjects entered and re-entered PN treatment 266 times (1.5 times per patient) and remained in treatment a mean of 10.6 weeks. When compared with a group of methadone maintenance patients, similar characteristics in employment and heroin use were found. The ability to take PN, attend a clinic less often than daily and discontinue and re-enter treatment on a discretionary basis is a preferred treatment approach for some narcotic addicts.