Rapid detoxification of opium dependent patients via opioid antagonist

ABSTRACT

This project was conducted to assess the feasibility and outcome of rapid detoxification method. 41 opium dependent patients [37 males, 4 females] with mean age of 29.1 years [17-44] who had been consecutive admitted to Iran Psychiatric Center during one year period were detoxified with subcutaneous naloxone [11 patients] or oral naltrexone [30 patients]. Finally the detoxification was completed with the consumption of 50 mg of oral naltrexone. The required time for this method of detoxification was less than 72 hours. Except for two cases, all patients completed the treatment [95%].Among all serious side effects, delirium was seen in two subjects [5%]. The advantageous of this method of detoxification included little side effects, short period of treatment, significant efficacy, lower cost, and feasibility to provide the treatment to larger group of patients. Therefore, controlled study to replicate these findings is suggested