[Drug therapy of opioid withdrawal]

Vertex. 2008 Jan-Feb;19(77):522-6.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Although the opiate dependence is of low frequency in our midst, it is important to know its management because it requires medical treatment in most cases. At present, in our country, we may classify the different patient populations able to submit an opioid withdrawal syndrome in patients undergoing chronic treatment with opioids, patients in intensive care units, neonatal mother addicted patients and addicts from the general population or linked to the health system. Detoxification programs are typically characterized by a low rate of completion of treatment and a high rate of relapse. The opioid withdrawal syndrome is objectively and subjectively severe and moderate and the goals of the therapy for the Opiates Withdrawal Syndrome are: to prevent or reduce the objective and subjective symptoms of abstinence; to prevent or treat its most serious complications; to treat preexisting or concurrent psychiatric disorders; to reduce the frequency or severity of relapses and to rehabilitate in the long term.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / therapeutic use
  • Analgesics, Opioid / adverse effects*
  • Buprenorphine / therapeutic use*
  • Dexmedetomidine / therapeutic use
  • Dextropropoxyphene / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Methadone / therapeutic use*
  • Naloxone / therapeutic use
  • Naltrexone / therapeutic use
  • Narcotics / therapeutic use*
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / physiopathology

Substances

  • Adrenergic alpha-Agonists
  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Narcotics
  • Naloxone
  • Buprenorphine
  • Naltrexone
  • Dexmedetomidine
  • Dextropropoxyphene
  • Methadone