Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-995ml Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T06:46:59.786Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Ultra-rapid opiate detoxification in hospital

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Mervyn London*
Affiliation:
Drug and Alcohol Service, Brookfields Hospital, Cambridge CB1 3DF
Eddi Paul
Affiliation:
Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge CB1 5EF
Ionna Gkolia
Affiliation:
Brookfields Hospital
*
Correspondence
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Aims and method

To evaluate ultra-rapid opiate detoxification under sedation. Symptom control was analysed in the first 12 hours of detoxification in 20 patients and case notes were examined 12 weeks later for outcome.

Results

Good symptom control was achieved, except for restlessness. At 12 weeks 25% patients were abstinent.

Clinical implications

While long-term outcome is similar to conventional methadone detoxification, the ultra-rapid technique is safe, more acceptable to patients and more cost-effective.

Type
Original Papers
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

References

Brewer, C., Rezae, H. & Bailey, C. (1988) Opioid withdrawal and naltrexone induction in 48–72 hours with minimal drop-out, using a modification of the naltrexone–clonidine technique. British Journal of Psychiatry, 153, 340 343.Google Scholar
Brewer, C. (1997) Ultra rapid, antagonist-precipitated opiate detoxification under anaesthesia or sedation. Addiction Biology, 2, 291 302.Google Scholar
Charney, D., Riordan, C., Kleber, H., et al (1982) Clonidine and naltrexone, a safe, effective and rapid treatment of abrupt withdrawal from methadone. Archives of General Psychiatry, 39, 1327 1332.Google Scholar
Gossop, M., Green, L., Phillips, G., et al (1987) What happens to opiate addicts immediately after treatment – a prospective follow-up study. British Medical Journal 294, 1377 1380.Google Scholar
Loimer, N., Schmid, R., Presslich, O., et al (1989) Continuous naltrexone administration suppresses opiate withdrawal symptoms in human opiate addicts during detoxification treatment. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 23, 81 86.Google Scholar
Loimer, N., Lenz, K., Schmid, R., et al (1991) Technique for greatly shortening the transition from Methadone to Naltrexone maintenance of patients addicted to opiates. American Journal Psychiatry, 148, 933 935.Google ScholarPubMed
Pini, P. (1996) Controversial approaches to heroin addiction aired in London. Lancet, 348, 743.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seoane, A., Carrasco, G., Cabre, L., et al (1997) Efficacy and safety of two new methods of rapid intravenous detoxification in heroin addicts previously treated without success. British Journal of Psychiatry, 171, 340 345.Google Scholar
Strang, J., Marks, I., Dawe, S., et al (1997) Type of hospital setting and treatment outcome with heroin addicts. Results from randomised trial. British Journal of Psychiatry, 171, 335 339.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.