Evaluation of buprenorphine dosage adequacy in opioid receptor agonist substitution therapy for heroin dependence: first use of the BUprenorphine-naloxone Dosage Adequacy eVAluation (BUDAVA) questionnaire.

Background: The dosing of opioid receptor agonist medications adequately and on an individual basis is crucial in the pharmacotherapy of opioid dependence. Clinical tools that are able to measure dose appropriateness are sorely needed. The recently developed and validated Opiate Dosage Adequacy Scale (ODAS) comprehensively evaluates the main outcomes relevant for methadone dose optimization, namely relapse, cross-tolerance, objective and subjective withdrawal symptoms, craving and overdose.