Clinical efficacy of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in treatment of opiate withdrawal.
This paper describes the role of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in the treatment of opiate withdrawal syndrome. In the two patients described, after having abruptly withdrawn from long-term methadone treatment, GHB was orally administered (each dose given every 4-6 h) for 8-9 days. The GHB showed both a high efficacy (some mild and transient symptoms attributable to opiate withdrawal were observed, but only in the first days of therapy) and a good tolerability (no clinical phenomena interpreted as GHB side effects were found). These results could be of interest in improving the pharmacological treatment of drug addiction.
Gallimberti
L
L
Addiction Treatment Unit, Padua, Italy.
Schifano
F
F
Forza
G
G
Miconi
L
L
Ferrara
S D
SD
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D012978:Sodium Oxybate; D008691:Methadone