Abstract
Background and Objectives: Although Methadone is used as standard methods in most countries in opium detoxification, Clonidine also can be used in treatment of withdrawal symptoms.
This study tries to assess the role of clonidine in controlling the withdrawal symptoms of the drug dependent out patients by comparing it with methadone, and hopefully introduce a proper therapeutic method in controlling the withdrawal symptoms and re-addiction prevention with a lesser cost in a shorter period time.
Materials and Methods: This study was carried out as a clinical trial on severely opium dependent out patients (over 5 gr daily) in Razi Hospital of Tabriz. Three hundreds sixty one patients were selected randomly in two groups: detoxification with clonidine(1-6 tablets 0.2mg) and detoxification with methadone (25-40mg). Data from the patients have been collected using a check lists in 3 phases (pre detoxification, post detoxification, 1 months after detoxification), and were analyzed by the statistical testes(t- Test, Chi – Square ) in SPSS soft ware.
Results: Study results showed that 59% of the patients in methadone method left the study but dropout in was 16% (P<0.0005) in the second method. There were similar results in symptom controll in both methods, but patient satisfaction rate was higher in clonidine method (p<0.02). Duration of the therapy in clonidine method was 3.6 days and 18/6 days in the other method (P<0.0005), which offers a strong reason to use clonidine in out patient therapy with lesser cost in a short time.
conclusion: Dropout rate of the therapy is higher in methadone method; clonidine can be used as a more effective therapy method for out patients with a higher satisfaction rate in controlling withdrawal symptoms