Comparing the Effects of Methadone, Buprenorphine, and Opium Tincture Maintenance Therapy on Sexual Function

Opioid use disorder is a major concern to public health, and opioid maintenance treatment onmethadone or buprenorphine is a widely used approach. On the other hand, in recent years, there has beenmore regards for the use of opium tincture for detoxification and maintenance treatment of opioiddependence in certain parts of the world. The purpose of our research was to compare sexual impairments ofmethadone maintenance treatment (MMT), buprenorphine maintenance treatment (BMT), and opiumtincture maintenance treatment (OMT) in patients. The study sample consisted of opium-addicted men candidates for maintenance treatment in anaddiction quitting clinic in Tehran, Iran, from November 2017 to February 2018. Participants (n = 84) wererandomly assigned to three groups (of the equal number), receiving either methadone tablet, buprenorphinesublingual tablet, and opium tincture. The average score for sexual function was evaluated using the ArizonaSexual Experiences Scale (ASEX) at the beginning and after 3 months after treatment. Although there was no significant different in ASEX scores between the groups at the beginningand end of the study (P > 0.05), but the difference was significant in each group in comparing by themselves. These results showed that sexual dysfunction became better after opioid substitution therapies,and no differences were observed on sexual dysfunction between the three groups