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Ultra-rapid opiate detoxification in hospital

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Mervyn London*
Affiliation:
Drug and Alcohol Service, Brookfields Hospital, Cambridge CB1 3DF
Eddi Paul
Affiliation:
Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge CB1 5EF
Ionna Gkolia
Affiliation:
Brookfields Hospital
*
Correspondence
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Abstract

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Aims and method

To evaluate ultra-rapid opiate detoxification under sedation. Symptom control was analysed in the first 12 hours of detoxification in 20 patients and case notes were examined 12 weeks later for outcome.

Results

Good symptom control was achieved, except for restlessness. At 12 weeks 25% patients were abstinent.

Clinical implications

While long-term outcome is similar to conventional methadone detoxification, the ultra-rapid technique is safe, more acceptable to patients and more cost-effective.

Type
Original Papers
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

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