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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pseudoname on November 25, 2005, at 8:42:13
NEW YORK— The use of the antipsychotic drug Seroquel® (quetiapine) during opioid cessation appears to help relieve the symptoms of withdrawal, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
Dr. Harold B. Pinkofsky and colleagues from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, studied patients undergoing outpatient detoxification from opioids.
The patients were initially given eight 25-mg tablets of Seroquel. They were told to take 1 or 2 tablets every 4 hours as needed for symptoms of withdrawal or craving. Doses were increased if the drug was tolerated and the patient reported a benefit.
A total of 213 patients were treated with Seroquel in the clinic. Of these, 41 percent completed the program, with at least 5 days of abstinence. After some initial success with Seroquel, the patients were asked to complete a medication questionnaire for quality-assurance purposes.
Of the 107 patients who completed the survey, 79 (74 percent) reported that Seroquel helped reduce cravings for opioids and 52 (49 percent) said that it helped reduce withdrawal-associated anxiety. A reduction in pain was reported by 24 patients (22 percent), and 22 patients (21 percent) reported that Seroquel helped alleviate insomnia. Fourteen patients (13 percent) reported an improvement in appetite.
Four subjects said that Seroquel had no benefit. Seven patients were not able to tolerate the drug because of side effects. The patients received an average Seroquel dose of 206 mg/day.
"It appears that (Seroquel) may play a role in opioid detoxification, although the...mode of action is not known," Pinkofsky and colleagues write. "The results of this analysis suggest the need for further investigation."
SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, October 2005.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=1341433
Posted by Declan on November 25, 2005, at 12:03:45
In reply to Seroquel helps opioid withdrawal, posted by pseudoname on November 25, 2005, at 8:42:13
Only 21% felt that Seroquel alleviated insomnia, whereas there were much better results for craving (74%) and withdrawal anxiety (49%). OTOH only 41% completed the program, though I'm not sure how we should factor that in.
I'm most interestd in the sleep angle myself.
Declan
Posted by pseudoname on November 25, 2005, at 12:51:38
In reply to Re: Seroquel helps opioid withdrawal, posted by Declan on November 25, 2005, at 12:03:45
> OTOH only 41% completed the program, though I'm not sure how we should factor that in
Yeah.... I guess drop-out rates are always really high in substance-treatment studies?
I couldn't help wondering – not completely tongue-in-cheek – if these results would mean opioids might help with Seroquel withdrawal symptoms. But maybe the inferences don't flow in both directions...
[I should've posted the exact citation with the press release. Because I'm anal ;-) ]
Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
Oct 2005; vol 66 (10); pgs 1285-88
"Reduction of Opioid-Withdrawal Symptoms with Quetiapine."
Harold B. Pinkofsky, Ann M. Hahn, Frances A. Campbell, John Rueda, Dennis C. Daley, and Antoine B. Douaihy
ABSTRACT at: http://www.psychiatrist.com/abstracts/200510/100511.htm
Posted by Declan on November 25, 2005, at 16:50:40
In reply to opioids and Seroquel withdrawal?, posted by pseudoname on November 25, 2005, at 12:51:38
Yeah, very funny (using opiates for Seroquel withdrawal).
Opiates help with almost everything. Alestair Crowley wrote something called 100 reasons for taking heroin, which started:
I need it to sleep
I need it to stay awakeWe would all be better off if we had enough stuff, the modern world hadn't been invented and the poppy and coca grew outside the back door. Not too much to ask for.
Declan
Posted by ed_uk on November 26, 2005, at 15:12:08
In reply to Re: Seroquel helps opioid withdrawal, posted by Declan on November 25, 2005, at 12:03:45
Hi Deccie
Were you thinking of trying Seroquel for insomnia?
Love
Eddy x
Posted by Declan on November 26, 2005, at 20:50:23
In reply to Re: Seroquel helps opioid withdrawal » Declan, posted by ed_uk on November 26, 2005, at 15:12:08
Yeah hi again Eddy
Yeah, sort of. But I'm not that hopeful. I think the terrible truth for me about insomnia is that it would resolve within a year of discontinuing ALL drugs. Especially benzos.
Declan
Posted by ed_uk on November 27, 2005, at 16:32:18
In reply to Re: Seroquel helps opioid withdrawal » ed_uk, posted by Declan on November 26, 2005, at 20:50:23
Perhaps.
Are you going to try 25mg Seroquel?
Eddy xxxx
Posted by Declan on November 27, 2005, at 19:53:41
In reply to Re: Seroquel helps opioid withdrawal » Declan, posted by ed_uk on November 27, 2005, at 16:32:18
Posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2005, at 15:58:06
In reply to Re: Seroquel helps opioid withdrawal » Declan, posted by ed_uk on November 27, 2005, at 16:32:18
Why do you love my 'perhaps' Dec?
Eddy
Posted by Declan on November 28, 2005, at 16:50:34
In reply to Re: Seroquel helps opioid withdrawal » ed_uk, posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2005, at 15:58:06
Sceptical and brief.
Dec
Posted by Declan on December 19, 2005, at 1:42:12
In reply to Re: Seroquel helps opioid withdrawal » ed_uk, posted by Declan on November 28, 2005, at 16:50:34
Hey Eddy
I wouldn't mind having some Seroquel around. But visits to the doctor are unpredictable. Last time I went for Ambien and left with mirtazepine, having made my confession to depression.
That 70 odd per cent who found Seroquel helped with opiate craving.....that's interesting.
Declan
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