Clinical efficacy of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in treatment of opiate withdrawal

Luigi Gallimberti, Fabrizio Schifano, Giovanni Forza, Lorella Miconi, S. Davide Ferrara

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper describes the role of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in the treatment of opiate withdrawal syndrome. In the two patients described, after having abruptly withdrawn from long-term methadone treatment, GHB was orally administered (each dose given every 4-6 h) for 8-9 days. The GHB showed both a high efficacy (some mild and transient symptoms attributable to opiate withdrawal were observed, but only in the first days of therapy) and a good tolerability (no clinical phenomena interpreted as GHB side effects were found). These results could be of interest in improving the pharmacological treatment of drug addiction.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)113-114
Number of pages2
JournalEuropean Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Volume244
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 1994

Keywords

  • Drug addiction
  • Gamma-hydroxybutyrate
  • Opiate dependence
  • Opiate withdrawal

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