title: Efficacy of methadone versus methadone and guanfacine in the detoxification of heroin-addicted patients.
abstract: In a randomized double-blind study, the clinical efficacy of methadone vs. methadone and guanfacine was assessed in terms of evolution of opioid withdrawal symptoms during inpatient detoxification. A total of 144 patients were included and randomly allocated to three different treatment groups: methadone alone, and two combined treatment schedules (methadone plus 3 or 4 mg of guanfacine). No differences were observed among the three groups with regard to retention rate throughout the study period. Both therapies, methadone and methadone plus guanfacine, determined a slight increase in withdrawal scores when methadone was discontinued. However, guanfacine was unable to effectively control methadone-associated withdrawal symptoms. These results indicate that guanfacine does not effectively reduce the opioid withdrawal symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Sección de Toxicomanías, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: San
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cami
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gossop
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016316:Guanfacine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016316:Guanfacine; D008691:Methadone