Monthly shot vs. daily pill: which works better for opioid addiction?

NCT ID NCT04375033

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study compares a once-monthly injectable buprenorphine to the standard daily sublingual tablet (with naloxone) for treating opioid use disorder in 952 veterans. The goal is to see which formulation better keeps people in treatment and helps them stay opioid-free over 48 weeks. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two treatments and followed for a year.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: buprenorphine (injectable or sublingual with naloxone)
What this could lead to: If the monthly injection works better, it could offer a more convenient and effective way to help people stay in treatment and avoid relapse.
What could go wrong: This is a Phase 4 study, so the drugs are already approved; however, the injectable may not prove superior, and individual results vary. Risks include injection site reactions and potential for misuse.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

opiate dependence

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

OPIOID-USE DISORDER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Pay Pines, FL
RECRUITING

Bay Pines, Florida, 33744-0000, United States
CERC (VISN1, West Haven, CT)
RECRUITING

West Haven, Connecticut, 06516-2770, United States
Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI
RECRUITING

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53295-0001, United States
Dayton VA Medical Center, Dayton, OH
RECRUITING

Dayton, Ohio, 45428, United States
Hampton VA Medical Center, Hampton, VA
RECRUITING

Hampton, Virginia, 23667, United States
Huntington VA Medical Center, Huntington, WV
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Huntington, West Virginia, 25704-9300, United States
Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH
TERMINATED

Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States
Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN
TERMINATED

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55417-2309, United States
North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL
RECRUITING

Gainesville, Florida, 32608-1135, United States
Philadelphia MultiService Center, Philadelphia, PA
RECRUITING

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106, United States
Phoenix VA Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ
RECRUITING

Phoenix, Arizona, 85012, United States
Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI
TERMINATED

Providence, Rhode Island, 02908-4734, United States
Salem VA Medical Center, Salem, VA
RECRUITING

Salem, Virginia, 24153-6404, United States
San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA
RECRUITING

San Francisco, California, 94121-1563, United States
Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, AL
TERMINATED

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 35404-5015, United States
VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA
TERMINATED

Boston, Massachusetts, 02130, United States
VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CT
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

West Haven, Connecticut, 06516-2770, United States
VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, CA
RECRUITING

Long Beach, California, 90822, United States
VA North Texas Health Care System Dallas VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX
RECRUITING

Dallas, Texas, 75216-7167, United States
VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA
RECRUITING

Palo Alto, California, 94304-1207, United States
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA
TERMINATED

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15240, United States
VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA
RECRUITING

Seattle, Washington, 98108-1532, United States
VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT
RECRUITING

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84148-0001, United States
White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT
TERMINATED

White River Junction, Vermont, 05001-3833, United States
Wilmington VA Medical Center, Wilmington, DE
RECRUITING

Wilmington, Delaware, 19805-4917, United States

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