Rapid and clonidine detoxification in opium dependent patients

ABSTRACT

This project was conducted to compare two programs of treatment, the rapid [naltrexone/clonidine] and the conventional [clonidine] detoxification. 54 opioid dependent patients referred to the clinic of Iran Educational Psychiatric Center participated in the study; they were randomly placed in two groups. 28 patients in group A [naltrexone/clonidine] and 26 patients in group B [clonidine] were studied. Data were collected via clinical interview based on DSM-IV criteria and a questionnaire appraising demographic in- formation and drug use patterns. For statistical evaluations, descriptive tests, t-test, and X2 were used. Both groups were similar in terms of demographic information, pattern of drug use, and the rate of attrition in the one-month follow up. The severity of withdrawal symptoms was the same in the two groups and assessed generally at the moderate level. There was no difference in the rate of treatment completion between the two groups [94% for group A and 96% for group B]. However, the length of hospitalization was significantly lower in group A than group B [five days. vs. nine days]. There were no major side effects observed in the two groups. There were no significant differences in terms of maintaining in treatment and rate of relapse in the one month follow up. Relapse rates were 50% and 46% respectively in groups A and B. As an effective method, rapid detoxification with naltrexone combined with clonidine is recommended considering its moderate severity of withdrawal symptoms, short period of detoxification, lack of severe adverse effects, as well as the possibility of rapid commencement of treatment with naltrexone for maintenance treatment