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Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms in Response to 10-Day and 21-Day Methadone Withdrawal Programmes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Michael Gossop ,
Paul Griffiths ,
Brendan Bradley  and
John Strang
Michael Gossop
Affiliation:
Drug Dependence Clinical Research and Treatment Unit
Paul Griffiths
Affiliation:
Drug Dependence Clinical Research and Treatment Unit
Brendan Bradley
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge
John Strang*
Affiliation:
Drug Dependence Clinical Research and Treatment Unit, The Maudsley and Bethlem Hospitals, London SE5
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

This study investigates and compares the responses of 132 opiate addicts to a 10-day or a 21-day in-patient oral methadone withdrawal regime. For both groups, symptom severity (on the Opiate Withdrawal Scale) steadily increased through the methadone withdrawal phase, and peaked near the point of completion of the prescribed drug, declining slowly thereafter. Patients on the 10-day programme reported significantly higher peak withdrawal scores than those on the 21-day programme. Although the proportions who completed detoxification were similar, there was a significantly higher drop-out rate immediately after detoxification for the 10-day group. The possible benefits and handicaps of the two withdrawal schedules are considered and recommendations are proposed for further refinement of the present widely adopted approach.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 154 , Issue 3 , March 1989 , pp. 360 - 363
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1989 

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