Comparison of efficacy of thioridazine with clonidine acting through different mechanisms in acute opioid abstinence syndrome

To compare the efficacy, safety and tolerability of thioridazine with clonidine in patients with Acute opioid Abstinence Syndrome. This single blind comparative clinical trial was carried out at Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute [BMSI], Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center [JPMC], Karachi. Fifty two addicts were selected randomly and were grouped into, group-A to received thioridazine 100 mg/day and group -B to received clonidine 150mcg/day. All participants completed the treatment program and stayed in hospital for ten days. The efficacy safety and tolerability of thioridazine was scant, while clonidine showed statistically significant turn down in the objective signs of acute opioid abstinence syndrome. Clonidine had more powerful effects than thioridazine. While treating the withdrawal signs of opioid abstinence syndrome may possibly pointed out that over activation of norepinephrine is a major factor contributes to the commencement of opioid abstinence syndrome

Imipramine induced ECG changes in rabbits

An uncontrolled In-vivo study was conducted to assess alterations in heart rate, QT interval and QRS complex duration in male chinchilla rabbits. Animals [n=10] were treated with 25mg/5ml/day imipramine, through oral route of administration for five days. The electrocardiographic tracings were recorded by needle electrodes in all conscious animals first before and then after drug administration, following every day up to five days. It showed cardiotoxic effects like QT interval prolongation in addition to significant widening of QRS complex, along with decrease in heart rate. Because of these cardiotoxic effects prescribing imipramine to patients with prominent cardiovascular risk factors desires added attentiveness

Role of D-2 receptor antagonist chlorpromazine in observer rated signs of acute opioid abstinence syndrome

Chlorpromazine is very common non-opioid treatment option for acute opioid abstinence syndrome at different hospitals and detoxification centers at Karachi. Hence the study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of chlorpromazine compared with placebo in acute opioid abstinence syndrome. Forty healthy opiate-dependent patients seeking inpatient treatment were selected randomly. Of the 40 study patients, 20 were given placebo and 20 were given chlorpromazine 150 mg/day in divided doses under single blind protocol. All patients completed the treatment program and stayed in the hospital for 10 days. Chlorpromazine is ineffective treatment to control the signs of acute opioid abstinence syndrome. There were non- significant differences in the cumulative scores of signs of acute opioid abstinence syndrome between the two groups. The investigators found no benefit of chlorpromazine over placebo in treating acute opioid abstinence syndrome

Gingival hyperplasia; during verapamil therapy in hypertensive patients

Calcium ion plays an important role in gingival hyperplasia due to its effects on hemostatic balance of epithelial differentiation and apoptosis. It is hypothesized that non inflamed gingival fibroblasts are less active and do not respond to circulating drugs. While the fibroblasts within inflamed tissue are in an active state. Hence a study was conducted to investigate and assess the relationship between oral hygiene and severity of gingival hyperplasia in hypertensive patients receiving verapamil. In the present comparative investigation, clinical periodontal parameters were determined. Thirty hypertensive patients who were taking verapamil 240 mg/day in divided doses selected randomly. Subjects were divided in to HEL groups. A gingival enlargement score was assessed for each patient by using hyper plastic index, while using plaque index assessed the oral hygiene status. There were highly significant differences between test groups E and L, when they were compared with group H [Healthy group]. Mean plaque index and hyper plastic index varied between test groups H, E and L. The differences showed statistical high significance. Oral hygiene plays a decisive role in the development of gingival hyperplasia and the incidence can be controlled successfully by meticulous professional and individual oral hygiene

Role of alpha-2 agonist clonidine in attenuation of hot flashes in patients with acute opioid abstinence syndrome

The demand for nonhormonal interventions for hot flashes is increasing because of the number of patients diagnosed with hormone-sensitive cancers and the hormone replacement therapy is not as beneficial as originally believed. So this study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of Clonidine in hot flashes, the most frequently reported subjective symptom of acute opioid abstinence syndrome. The study was a 10 days single-blind, random-assignment, inpatient trial of Clonidine for patients of opioid abstinence syndrome with a very common symptom the hot flashes. 20 patients were given Clonidine 300 meg/ day in divided doses. All patients, who have completed the treatment program, stayed in the hospital for 10 days. Mean absolute change scores of number of hot flashes per day at endpoint, with baseline scores, showed a very rapid and highly significant decline with Clonidine treatment program. The investigators found a benefit of Clonidine in hot flashes