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Acute Blocking of Naloxone-Precipitated Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms by Methohexitone

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

N. Loimer ,
R. Schmid ,
K. Lenz ,
O. Presslich  and
J. Grünberger
N. Loimer*
Affiliation:
Intensive Care Unit, Psychiatric University Clinic of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
R. Schmid
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Psychoactive Drug Analysis, Psychiatric University Clinic of Vienna
K. Lenz
Affiliation:
Intensive Care Unit, Medical University of Vienna
O. Presslich
Affiliation:
Intensive Care Unit, Psychiatric University Clinic of Vienna
J. Grünberger
Affiliation:
Psychodiagnostic Unit, Psychiatric University Clinic of Vienna
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

In a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 18 patients, methohexitone blocked objective signs of opiate withdrawal caused by a bolus injection of naloxone. Furthermore, in continuing the naloxone therapy for 48 hours, no withdrawal signs appeared. Levels of withdrawal distress returned to normal levels within six days. This approach can be regarded as an effective and well tolerated withdrawal therapy with low drop-out rates.

Type
Brief Reports
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 157 , Issue 5 , November 1990 , pp. 748 - 752
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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