Dapiprazole compared with clonidine and a placebo in detoxification of opiate addicts
Pini, L.A.; Sternieri, E.; Ferretti, C.
International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Research 11(2): 99-105
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0251-1649 PMID: 1879994 Document Number: 374431
The activity of dapiprazole, clonidine and a placebo were studied to reduce abstinence symptoms and modify the psychological outline during a withdrawal period in heroin addicts. Forty heroin addicts were treated in a double-blind design and, within two weeks, relapse in heroin use was higher in the placebo group (8/10) in comparison with the dapiprazole (1/20) and clonidine (0/10) groups. During treatment clonidine was able to reduce depression and paranoid-ideas scores, whereas dapiprazole reduced depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, obsessiveness and psychoticism. Side-effects were mild and it may be concluded that both dapiprazole and clonidine are effective and safe drugs for the treatment of opiate withdrawal syndrome.