Publication year
2012Number of pages
6 p.
Source
European Addiction Research, 18, 1, (2012), pp. 40-45ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

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Organization
SW OZ BSI KLP
FSW_Academisch centrum
Journal title
European Addiction Research
Volume
vol. 18
Issue
iss. 1
Languages used
English (eng)
Page start
p. 40
Page end
p. 45
Subject
Experimental Psychopathology and TreatmentAbstract
Objective: To determine the effectiveness and safety of a new detoxification procedure in gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)-dependent patients. GHB is an endogenous inhibitory neurotransmitter and anesthetic agent that is being abused as a club drug. In many GHB-dependent patients a severe withdrawal syndrome develops that does not respond to treatment with high dosages of benzodiazepines and often requires an admission to an intensive care unit. Methods: Based on the knowledge of detoxification procedures in opioid and benzodiazepine dependence, we developed a titration and tapering procedure. A consecutive series of 23 GHB-dependent inpatients were transferred from illegal GHB (mostly self-produced) in various concentrations to pharmaceutical GHB. They were given initial doses that resulted in a balance between sedation and withdrawal symptoms. After this titration period, patients were placed on a 1-week taper. Results: We have found that after titration the patients experienced a low level of withdrawal symptoms. During tapering these symptoms decreased significantly and no patient developed a delirium or a psychosis. None of the patients had to be transferred to a medium or intensive care unit. Conclusions: This detoxification procedure proved to be safe and convenient in patients with moderate to severe GHB dependence
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- Faculty of Social Sciences [27390]
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