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

NCT ID NCT04375033

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.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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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.

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Pay Pines, FL

    RECRUITING

    Bay Pines, Florida, 33744-0000, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • CERC (VISN1, West Haven, CT)

    RECRUITING

    West Haven, Connecticut, 06516-2770, United States

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI

    RECRUITING

    Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53295-0001, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Dayton VA Medical Center, Dayton, OH

    RECRUITING

    Dayton, Ohio, 45428, United States

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Hampton VA Medical Center, Hampton, VA

    RECRUITING

    Hampton, Virginia, 23667, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Huntington VA Medical Center, Huntington, WV

    NOT_YET_RECRUITING

    Huntington, West Virginia, 25704-9300, United States

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • 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

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Philadelphia MultiService Center, Philadelphia, PA

    RECRUITING

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Phoenix VA Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ

    RECRUITING

    Phoenix, Arizona, 85012, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • 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

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA

    RECRUITING

    San Francisco, California, 94121-1563, United States

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • 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

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • VA North Texas Health Care System Dallas VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX

    RECRUITING

    Dallas, Texas, 75216-7167, United States

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA

    RECRUITING

    Palo Alto, California, 94304-1207, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • 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

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT

    RECRUITING

    Salt Lake City, Utah, 84148-0001, United States

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • 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

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••