Open AccessMedication of l ‐tetrahydropalmatine significantly ameliorates opiate craving and increases the abstinence rate in heroin users: a pilot study 1
Author(s) -
YANG Zheng,
SHAO Yongcong,
LI Shijiang,
QI Jianlin,
ZHANG Meijie,
HAO Wei,
JIN Guozhang
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
acta pharmacologica sinica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.514
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1745-7254
pISSN - 1671-4083
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-7254.2008.00817.x
Subject(s) - craving , abstinence , heroin , medicine , placebo , confidence interval , randomized controlled trial , addiction , opiate , mood , anesthesia , psychiatry , drug , alternative medicine , pathology , receptor
Aim: Drug addiction is a chronic brain disease with constant relapse requiring long‐term treatment. New pharmacological strategies focus on the development of an effective antirelapse drug. This study examines the effects of levotetrahydropalmatine ( l ‐THP) on reducing heroin craving and increasing the abstinence rate among heroin‐dependent patients. Methods: In total, 120 heroin‐dependent patients participated in the randomized, double‐blinded, and placebo‐controlled study using l ‐THP treatment. The participants remained in a ward during a 4‐week period of l ‐THP treatment, followed by 4 weeks of observation after treatment. The patients were followed for 3 months after discharge. Outcome measures are the measured severity of the protracted abstinence withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) and the abstinence rate. Results: Four weeks of l ‐THP treatment significantly ameliorated the severity of PAWS, specifically, somatic syndrome, mood states, insomnia, and drug craving, in comparison to the placebo group. Based on the 3 month follow‐up observation, participants who survived the initial 2 weeks of l ‐THP medication and remained in the trial program had a significantly higher abstinence rate of 47.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 33%–67%) than the 15.2% in the placebo group (95% CI: 7%‐25%), according to a log‐rank test ( P <0.0005). Conclusion: l ‐THP significantly ameliorated PAWS, especially reducing drug craving. Furthermore, it increased the abstinence rate among heroin users. These results support the potential use of l ‐THP for the treatment of heroin addiction.