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Severe Withdrawal (severe + withdrawal)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

Process evaluation of an out-patient detoxification service

DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 6 2005
Dr CLAUDIA SANNIBALE
Abstract This paper describes the process evaluation of an out-patient detoxification service (ODS) established by Drug Health Services (DHS) to increase the supervised withdrawal options for substance users in a Sydney metropolitan Area Health Service. The ODS aimed to provide a safe and effective supervised withdrawal to substance users who were at low risk of severe withdrawal, engage those with severe dependence in further treatment and increase the involvement of general practitioners (GPs) in the medical care of ODS clients. During its first 10 months of operation, the ODS received 199 inquiries, assessed 82 individuals and admitted 76 clients for detoxification. Withdrawal treatment proceeded without complications and within the expected time frames. Fifty-four clients completed withdrawal, 10 ceased treatment, 10 remained in treatment without completing withdrawal and two were transferred elsewhere. Clients who injected substances (mainly heroin) daily at admission, compared to others, were less likely to complete withdrawal and more likely to use a range of non-prescribed substances during withdrawal. One-fifth of clients went on to further treatment with DHS, attending at least once. Overall, the ODS met its goals, providing a safe and effective supervised withdrawal to local residents, especially women, young people and those withdrawing from benzodiazepines who had significant substance dependence, impairment and previous alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment. Non-injecting substance users benefited most from the ODS in terms of withdrawal completion and ongoing treatment. The level of GP involvement in the conjoint care of ODS clients remained constant over time. The development and expansion of the ODS are discussed. [source]

Gamma-hydroxybutyric Acid Tolerance and Withdrawal in a Rat Model

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 7 2003
Theodore C. Bania MD
Long-term daily use of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and related compounds has recently been associated with a withdrawal syndrome. To the best of the authors' knowledge, there are currently no animal models of GHB withdrawal. Objectives: The authors studied and described the effect of chronic dosing of GHB (3,6 days) on tolerance and withdrawal in a rat model. Methods: Rats were administered GHB every three hours via intraperitoneal catheter. Groups of rats (2 per group) were dosed with GHB for either 3 (24 doses), 4 (32 doses), 5 (40 doses), or 6 (48 doses) days. The GHB dose was 0.25 g/kg for doses 1,8, 0.75 g/kg for doses 9,12, 1 g/kg for doses 13,16, 1.25 g/kg for doses 17,24, 1.5 g/kg for doses 25,32, 1.75 g/kg for doses 33,40, and 2 g/kg for doses 41,48. Following the last dose of GHB, the rats were scored using a 16-point ethanol intoxication,withdrawal scale rating spontaneous behaviors, response to handling, grooming, and neurological signs. Lower scores indicate intoxication, while higher scores indicate withdrawal. Scores were recorded at hours 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, and 24. Results:Tolerance: Rats dosed with GHB for more days were less intoxicated one hour after their last GHB dose despite receiving higher doses. Withdrawal: The scores for all rats dosed with GHB increased at hours 4 (p = 0.028), 5 (p = 0.037), 6 (p = 0.007), and 9 (p = 0.024) after the last dose, indicating withdrawal. The scores demonstrated a linear increase dependent upon the number of days of GHB dosing at hours 3 (p < 0.000), 4 (p = 0.004), 5 (p = 0.002), and 12 (p = 0.039) as well as prior to the last dose at hour 0 (p = 0.000). No rats developed seizures. Conclusions: Tolerance and mild withdrawal in rats can be induced by administering intraperitoneal GHB every three hours for 3,6 days. More prolonged dosing and higher doses of GHB may be necessary to induce severe withdrawal. [source]

Fine mapping of a sedative-hypnotic drug withdrawal locus on mouse chromosome 11

GENES, BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR, Issue 1 2006
H. M. Hood
We have established that there is a considerable amount of common genetic influence on physiological dependence and associated withdrawal from sedative-hypnotic drugs including alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates and inhalants. We previously mapped two loci responsible for 12 and 9% of the genetic variance in acute alcohol and pentobarbital withdrawal convulsion liability in mice, respectively, to an approximately 28-cM interval of proximal chromosome 11. Here, we narrow the position of these two loci to a 3-cM interval (8.8 Mb, containing 34 known and predicted genes) using haplotype analysis. These include genes encoding four subunits of the GABAA receptor, which is implicated as a pivotal component in sedative-hypnotic dependence and withdrawal. We report that the DBA/2J mouse strain, which exhibits severe withdrawal from sedative-hypnotic drugs, encodes a unique GABAA receptor ,2 subunit variant compared with other standard inbred strains including the genetically similar DBA/1J strain. We also demonstrate that withdrawal from zolpidem, a benzodiazepine receptor agonist selective for ,1 subunit containing GABAA receptors, is influenced by a chromosome 11 locus, suggesting that the same locus (gene) influences risk of alcohol, benzodiazepine and barbiturate withdrawal. Our results, together with recent knockout studies, point to the GABAA receptor ,2 subunit gene (Gabrg2) as a promising candidate gene to underlie phenotypic differences in sedative-hypnotic physiological dependence and associated withdrawal episodes. [source]

Hyperphagia, weight gain and neonatal drug withdrawal

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 9 2002
R Shephard
Hyperphagia, a classical feature of neonatal drug withdrawal, has been reported not to lead to excessive weight gain, but this is contrary to our clinical experience. The aim of this study was to determine whether infants with neonatal drug withdrawal suffered excessive weight gain because of hyperphagia and, if so, to determine the risk factors. The study population comprised 48 infants consecutively admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, 11 of whom gained weight by more than 20 g kg -1 d -1 for at least 10 d (excessive weight gain). All 11 infants were hyperphagic (>200 ml/kg) for at least part of the excessive weight gain period. During the perinatal period, the 11 infants had a greater fluid intake (p > 0.01) but similar weight gain to gestational-age-matched, neonatal drug-withdrawal infants who did not suffer any excessive weight gain. Compared to the rest of the cohort, the infants with excessive weight gain were more likely to require treatment with morphine/chlorpromzaine (p > 0.05) and had a higher maximum withdrawal score (p > 0.01). Conclusion: Hyperphagia can lead to excessive weight gain in infants with neonatal drug withdrawal. Our results suggest that hyperphagia occurs in those who require treatment for severe withdrawal. [source]