Title: [Detoxification of patients with GHB dependence].
Abstract:A new detoxification method for GHB dependence was developed recently in the Netherlands. The method involves the use of pharmaceutical GHB.To describe the characteristics of GHB dependent inpatients,...A new detoxification method for GHB dependence was developed recently in the Netherlands. The method involves the use of pharmaceutical GHB.To describe the characteristics of GHB dependent inpatients, the course of the detoxification process and patients' progress in the three months following inpatient detoxification.229 GHB dependent patients were monitored during and after inpatient detoxification. Records were kept of the psychiatric symptoms, withdrawal symptoms and relapses.The average age of the patients was 29 years; 69% of the patients were male. They reported severe symptoms of co-occurring depression and anxiety. Detoxification was successful in 86% of the patients and, on a whole, the procedure ran smoothly, without complications. However, within three months following detoxification two-thirds of the patients had relapsed and were again taking GHB.Pharmaceutical GHB can be used as an alternative to the benzodiazepine method for detoxifying patients with GHB dependence. However, the high relapse rates following detoxification are of great concern.Read More
Publication Year: 2013
Publication Date: 2013-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['pubmed']
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Cited By Count: 12
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