Return
to Research Menu
Return
to Front Page
Methadone
16. Gold, M.S., Pottash, A.L.C., Sternbach, H., Barbaban, J., and Annitto, W. Antiwithdrawal effects of alpha methyl dopa and cranial electrotherapy. Paper presented at Society for Neuroscience. 12th Annual Meeting, October, 1982.
Device not specified.
Chronic opiate user inpatients were randomized for this double-blind study and given either alpha methyl dopa (Aldomet) or placebo Aldomet 48 hours after abruptly removing methadone, or CES or placebo CES. Aldomet and CES were both effective in controlling the effects of acute withdrawal. CES was also effective in controlling the effects of protracted withdrawal. No placebo condition was effective. The authors theorized that CES was effective by stimulating -endorphin, which inhibited the noradrenaline activity at the locus ceruleus. No side effects were reported.
17. Gomez, Evaristo and Mikhail, Adib R. Treatment of methadone withdrawal with cerebral electrotherapy (electrosleep). British Journal of Psychiatry (London). 134:111113, 1979. Also in Gomez, Evaristo and Mikhail, Adib R. Treatment of methadone withdrawal with cerebral electrotherapy (electrosleep). Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, Detroit, 1974.
Device: 100 Hz, 2 mS, 0.4 - 1.3 mA, electrodes from the forehead to mastoids
For this single blind study, 28 male heroin addicts, between 18 and 60 years
old, undergoing methadone detoxification were selected on the basis of having
severe anxiety as measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Taylor Manifest
Anxiety Scale, difficulties in sleeping, willingness to participate in the
study for at least 2 weeks in a locked ward, and agreement not to take any
tranquilizers or hypnotics while in the study. This was a self medicated
withdrawal study in which methadone was given as requested by the patients
as needed to control their withdrawal symptoms. The pts were then randomly
divided into a CES treatment group (N = 14) who were taking 20 - 60 mg of
methadone/day, a placebo group (N = 7) taking 30 to 40 mg/day, and a waiting
in line control group (N = 7) taking 25 - 40 mg/day. CES or sham CES was
given for 10 days, Monday through Friday, 30 minutes per day. After 6 - 8
CES treatments, methadone intake was 0 in 9 pts, with another 1 at 0 after
10 treatments. 3 were taking 10 - 15 mg after the 10 treatments. The other
active pt dropped out of the study after the first treatment. The pts reported
feeling restful and having a general feeling of well-being, their sleep was
good and undisturbed after 3 treatments. The Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale
scores also came down significantly in the CES group with 7 pts dropping
from a mean of 31 before CES to 20 after 10 days (normal is 8 - 18), while
the others showed a 25 - 50% reduction. Sham CES pts showed an insignificant
change in the mean TMAS scores from 29 to 27. The methadone intake did not
change in 4 sham CES pts, and only dropped 5 - 10 mg in the other 3. These
pts were anxious and depressed, and complained of difficulty sleeping and
somatic problems. The 7 controls also did not do well, TMAS scores increased
in 2 cases, was the same in 1, and only decreased 1 - 2 points after 10 days
in the remainder. The methadone intake was the same in 3 controls, and decreased
in the other 4 after 10 days. These pts were anxious, had difficulty sleeping.
HAS scores were also diminished in the CES group but not the placebo or controls.
It was noted that with a higher current, the pt felt uncomfortable, but there
were no skin burns.
Return to Research Menu
Return to Front Page