r

therapy

FOR OPI ATE WITH ORAWAL - CLON! 01 NE MAY BE TH E BEST TREATME NT YET

Clonidine was remarkably effective in 12 patients withdrawing from either heroin or methadone. ' Patients received 5 J.lg / kg of c10nidine PO bid for I week in a double-blind placebo controlled study. Clonidine produced a rapid, prolonged, and significant reduction of opiate withdrawal signs and symptoms. All subjects had dramatic relief of subjective distress. Patients offered a choice after the study preferred clonidine to returning to heroin or methadone. Ten ofthe 12 patients were clonidine and opiate free at follow-up 2 weeks after the study treatment finished. Placebo had an insignificant effect. The only consistent side effect in the study was occasional sluggishness and sleep continuity disturbance.

'This preliminary study supports an augmented noradrenergic system. released from opiate inhibition. mediating opiate withdrawal. It also suggests that clonidine may be a more definitive treatment for opiate withdrawal signs and symptoms produced by the discontinuation of either methadone or heroin than any treatment now available.'

Gold. M.S. et al. : American Journal of Psychiatry 136: 100 (Jan 1979)

0156-2703/79/0324-0009 $00.50/0 © AD IS Press INPHARMA 24 Mar 1979 9