Comparison of the Outcomes of Three Detoxification Methods (Clonidin, Methadon, Rapid) in Opioid-dependents Referred to Kerman Shaheed Beheshti Hospital in a ۶ -month Follow- up

Background & Aims: In this study the efficacy of traditional method, methadone tapering method and rapid method as three opiate detoxification treatments was compared based on demographic features and naltrexone consumption in a ۶- month follow up. Method: This Cohort prospective study was performed on ۱۴۰ opioid addict men referred to opiate detoxification center of Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kerman/ Iran from ۲۰۰۵-۲۰۰۷. They were divided into three groups of traditional method (n= ۶۱), methadone tapering (n= ۳۴) and rapid treatment (n= ۴۵) and followed up for ۶ months in order to evaluate the results of detoxification treatments. Results:At the end of the first month, the rate of abstinence in whole was ۸۰.۷%, and this rate was ۸۳.۶% in traditional treatment group, ۸۲.۴% in methadone group and ۷۵.۶% in rapid treatment group that shows no significant difference. After the ۶th month the rate of abstinence was ۱۲.۸% in whole, ۱۶.۷% in traditional treatment group, ۱۶.۷% in methadone group and ۶.۳% in rapid treatment group. These rates, too, show no significant difference among three groups. The rate of naltrexone consumption at the end of the ۱st month was ۷۵.۷% in whole, ۵۲.۵% in traditional group, ۴۷.۱% in methadone group and ۹۷.۸% in rapid treatment group that shows significant difference among three groups (P<۰.۰۵). There was no case of naltrexone consumption at the end of the ۶th month. Conclusion: Since the rate of relapse and results of three detoxification methods have been the same the best detoxification method for each patient should be selected based on the physical condition of the patient, available facilities, probable expenses and physician's clinical judgment.

Keywords:

Opiate substitution treatment , Naltrexone , Methadone , Relapse