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. 2013;55(11):885-90.

[Detoxification of patients with GHB dependence]

[Article in Dutch]
G H de Weert-van Oene, A F A Schellekens, B A G Dijkstra, R Kamal, C A J de Jong
  • PMID: 24242149
Free article

[Detoxification of patients with GHB dependence]

[Article in Dutch]
G H de Weert-van Oene et al. Tijdschr Psychiatr. 2013.
Free article

Abstract

Background: A new detoxification method for GHB dependence was developed recently in the Netherlands. The method involves the use of pharmaceutical GHB.

Aim: To describe the characteristics of GHB dependent inpatients, the course of the detoxification process and patients' progress in the three months following inpatient detoxification.

Method: 229 GHB dependent patients were monitored during and after inpatient detoxification. Records were kept of the psychiatric symptoms, withdrawal symptoms and relapses.

Results: 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.

Conclusion: 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.

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