Hassan Solhi - Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
Bahman Salehi - Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
Abbas Alimoradian - Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
Shirin Pazouki - Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
Mohsen Taghizadeh - Researcher, Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
Ali Mohammad Saleh - Researcher, Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
Amir Mohammad Kazemifar - Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

Background: Withdrawal syndrome may influence patient's motivation for participation in addiction treatment programs. Management of the symptoms can improve the success rate of addiction treatment programs. In the present study, we have evaluated the efficiency of an herbal product as adjunct therapy for alleviation of withdrawal syndrome in opium abuse. Methods: In the present clinical trial, ۸۱ patients were assigned into case and control groups. The control group was treated with methadone and placebo for ۴ weeks. The case group was treated with methadone and powdered dried leaves of Rosmarinus officinalis for the same interval. Occurrence of withdrawal syndrome was compared between groups on days ۳, ۷, and ۱۴ after beginning of the treatment, and the possible signs and symptoms of withdrawal syndrome were checked. The clinical opioid withdrawal scale (COWS) was used for evaluation of withdrawal syndrome in the patients. Findings: Patients in the case group experienced less severe withdrawal syndrome compared to those in the control group; chiefly bone pain, perspiration, and insomnia. Conclusion: The present study showed that rosemary can be used as an optional extra drug for treatment of withdrawal syndrome during treatment programs for opium addiction and possibly addiction to other opioids. Keywords: Withdrawal syndrome, Rosmarinus officinalis, Opium, Addiction