Evaluation of the Effects of a Monthly Buprenorphine Depot Subcutaneous Injection on QT Interval During Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2019 Sep;106(3):576-584. doi: 10.1002/cpt.1406. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Abstract

Extensive 12-lead electrocardiogram monitoring and drug concentrations were obtained during development of BUP-XR, a monthly subcutaneous injection for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). Matched QT and plasma drug concentrations (11,925) from 1,114 subjects were pooled from 5 studies in OUD. A concentration-QT model was developed, which accounted for confounding factors (e.g., comedications) affecting heart rate and heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc). Bias-corrected nonparametric two-sided 90% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived for the mean predicted effect of BUP-XR on QTc (ΔQTc) at therapeutic and supratherapeutic doses. Changes in QTc were associated with age, central vs. noncentral reading, sex, methadone, and barbiturates. The upper 90% CI of ΔQTc was 0.29, 0.67, and 1.34 ms at the steady-state peak concentration (Cmax ) for 100, 300, and 2 × 300 mg doses, respectively. An effect of BUP-XR on QT can be ruled out at therapeutic and supratherapeutic doses of BUP-XR, after accounting for covariates that may influence heart rate and QT interval in OUD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Barbiturates / pharmacology
  • Barbiturates / therapeutic use
  • Buprenorphine / administration & dosage
  • Buprenorphine / adverse effects
  • Buprenorphine / pharmacology*
  • Buprenorphine / therapeutic use*
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Electrocardiography / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Long QT Syndrome / chemically induced
  • Male
  • Methadone / pharmacology
  • Methadone / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Opiate Substitution Treatment / methods*
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Sex Factors
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Barbiturates
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Buprenorphine
  • Methadone