Abstract:

The aim of this study was to compare the sleep quality, sex life, eating behavior, and quality of life of patients using sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone and extended-release naltrexone implant for the treatment of opiate use disorder. A total of 100 patients, 50 patients using sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone and 50 patients using extended-release naltrexone implant, who were diagnosed with opiate use disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition diagnostic criteria and were in remission for at least 1 month, were included. A Sociodemographic Data Form, World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Short Form, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale, and Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire were administered to all participants. The median duration of treatment was 12 months in the sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone group and 3 months in the extended-release naltrexone implant group (p <.001). World Health Organization Quality of Life ScaleShort Form physical health, social relations, and general health scores were found to be significantly higher in the extended-release naltrexone implant group than in the sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone group (p <.001, p  =.027, and p  =.007, respectively). Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale-female, and Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale-total scores in the extended-release naltrexone implant group were significantly lower than the sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone group (p  =.008, p  =.008, and p  =.023, respectively). Findings in our study show that extended-release naltrexone implant treatment in opiate use disorder may provide a better quality of life, sleep, and sexual life than sublingual buprenorph ine/naloxone treatment.

Keywords: