Levo-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM) in the treatment of heroin addicts. I. Dosage schedule for induction and stabilization.

One hundred and seventy-nine patients who were dependent on street narcotics were inducted into LAAM. Ninety-two were inducted using a slow schedule: 20, 20, 30, 30, 40, 40, 50, 50, 60, 60, 70, 70, 75 mg on successive clinic visits (Mon., Wed., Fri.). Only 23% of the patients followed this schedule to 50 mg; 55% requested and received a faster induction. Eighty-seven patients were inducted using a rapid schedule: 20, 30, 40, 40, 50 mg. This schedule was acceptable to the majority of patients and caused no complaints of overdosing. We suggest that this schedule be used in clinics where patients who have been shown to be dependent are inducted directly onto LAAM.