Indian Journal of Psychiatry · Published 2026-07-01 · DOI 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry_632_25
Kishor Kumar, Bharat S. Shekhawat, Sandhya Yadav, Rohitashava Gothwal, Mohammed A. Rangrez
Background and Aim: Evidence on factors associated with successful methadone tapering in India is limited. This study aims to identify positive and negative factors associated with successful tapering of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study reviewed records of 88 patients undergoing MMT tapering at a tertiary care drug treatment clinic (DTC). Demographic, clinical, withdrawal, motivational, and treatment-related factors associated with taper outcomes were analyzed. Results: Seventeen participants (19.3%) successfully completed tapering without relapse. Successful tapering was associated with lower baseline methadone dose, lower withdrawal severity, greater motivation, and absence of tobacco use. Participants who relapsed after taper completion had significantly higher taper rates than those who remained abstinent (6.4 vs. 3.3 mg/week; P = 0.039). Fear of relapse, withdrawal symptoms, family instability, economic instability, and fear of death were common barriers to tapering. Conclusion: Successful tapering was associated with lower baseline methadone dose, slower taper rate, lower withdrawal severity, greater motivation, and absence of tobacco use.
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Kumar, K., Shekhawat, B., Yadav, S., et al. (2026). A study of positive and negative factors associated with tapering off methadone maintenance treatment. Indian Journal of Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.4103/indianjpsychiatry_632_25