Effects of Buspirone in Opiate Withdrawal

January 11, 2017 updated by: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Effects of Buspirone in Withdrawal From Opiates

Dependence on heroin is a major public health problem because of its association with criminality, law enforcement costs and healthcare costs. Managed withdrawal is a required first step for a long term drug-free treatment of heroin addicts. Methadone and clonidine have been the mainstay of treatment for the relief of heroin withdrawal symptoms but both have limitations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of buspirone in the alleviation of the withdrawal symptoms experienced by heroin addicts when they stop using heroin. Buspirone is a non opiate drug with no abuse potential, no sedating effects and no withdrawal symptoms.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

In an attempt to develop a new opiate detoxification approach, the authors assessed the efficacy of buspirone in the treatment of acute heroin withdrawal. Buspirone, a drug interacting with the serotonergic system was selected because there is evidence that a decrease in serotonergic neurotransmission may be involved in opiate withdrawal symptomatology.

Hospitalized heroin addicts were randomized to 4 groups: 1) placebo; 2) methadone; 3) buspirone 30 mg daily; 4) buspirone 45 mg daily. The double-blind trial started in all patients with a 5-day methadone stabilization period ending with a 30 mg dose. This was followed from day 6 through 12 by placebo in group 1 and by a methadone taper in group 2. Because of its delayed action, buspirone was started on day 1 in groups 3 and 4 and was continued, after methadone discontinuation, through day 12. On day 13, drugs and placebo were discontinued and patients observed through day 14. Withdrawal symptoms were assessed with the "Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale" (SOWS) and the "Objective Opiate Withdrawal Scale" (OOWS). Participants met with a research assistant daily for 30 minutes while on an inpatient unit. The study did not interfere with the scheduled ward activities. Results so far indicate that the SOWS and OOWS scores were significantly higher in the Placebo group than in the Methadone, Buspirone 30 mg and Buspirone 45 mg groups. There were no significant differences in SOWS or OOWS scores when the Methadone group was compared to each of the two Buspirone groups or when the two Buspirone groups were compared to one another. Thus buspirone, a non opiate drug with no abuse potential, a safe side effect profile and no withdrawal symptoms at doses of 30 and 45 mg, was as effective as a methadone taper in alleviating the withdrawal symptoms of heroin addicts stabilized for 5 days with, and then withdrawn from, methadone. Additional analyses will be performed using data collected in the course of the study.

Study Type

Interventional

Phase

  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • Brooklyn, New York, United States, 11209
        • VA New York Harbor Healthcare System - Brooklyn Campus

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

23 years to 53 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • fulfilled DSM IV diagnostic criteria for opioid dependence
  • used heroin daily for at least the prior 6 months with claimed heroin use of at least 2.5g/week
  • physical dependence on opiates as determined by history and observation
  • admission urine samples demonstrating heroin use
  • expressed willingness to participate in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study for 14 days.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • current or past Axis I psychiatric disorder other than opioid dependence
  • evidence of significant neurological, gastrointestinal, hepatic, cardiovascular, renal, endocrine or hematologic disease
  • seropositive status for the human immunodeficiency virus

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Laure Buydens-Branchey, M.D., VA New York Harbor Healthcare System

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

January 1, 2002

Study Completion

July 1, 2004

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 12, 2006

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 12, 2006

First Posted (Estimate)

May 16, 2006

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

January 12, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 11, 2017

Last Verified

March 1, 2005

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • R01DA013264 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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