Clinical comparison of propoxyphene napsylate and methadone in the treatment of opiate dependence.

In this double-blind comparison of propoxyphene napsylate (PN) 800 mg in two divided doses versus methadone 20 mg, methadone 10 mg or placebo methadone, it was found that PN: 1) did not alleviate withdrawal symptoms in patients previously maintained on methadone 20 mg; 2) produced a slightly overmedicated effect in the detoxified group of exmethadone patients; and 3) compared favorably to methadone 10 mg in suppressing withdrawal symptoms without producing evidence of overmedication in those patients previously stabilized on a methadone maintenance dose of 10 mg.