Relapse to opiate use provokes biphasic changes of blood pressure in heroin-withdrawn addicts treated with clonidine

The effect of relapse to opiate use on blood pressure and heart rate has been studied in heroin-withdrawn addicts treated with clonidine in an outpatient detoxification procedure. The daily dose of clonidine was established according to body weight and amount of heroin usually consumed at the onset...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Drug and alcohol dependence 1992-06, Vol.30 (2), p.193-198
Main Authors: Rubio, Gabriel, Alguacil, Luis F., Alamo, Cecilio, Pascual, Jesus, Lopez-Trabada, Jose R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
blood pressure
Blood Pressure - drug effects
Blood Pressure - physiology
clonidine
Clonidine - therapeutic use
detoxification
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Drug addictions
Female
Heroin - adverse effects
heroin addiction
Heroin Dependence - physiopathology
Heroin Dependence - rehabilitation
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Recurrence
Substance Abuse Treatment Centers
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - physiopathology
Toxicology
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Summary:The effect of relapse to opiate use on blood pressure and heart rate has been studied in heroin-withdrawn addicts treated with clonidine in an outpatient detoxification procedure. The daily dose of clonidine was established according to body weight and amount of heroin usually consumed at the onset of treatment. Patients who returned to heroin use were detected by increased urinary levels of opiates. Clonidine elicited significant reductions of blood pressure and heart rate reaching a plateau in the second day of treatment. Heroin consumption was found to provoke a further decrease of both systolic and diastolic pressure when the time interval between the relapse and the cardiovascular determinations was about 3 h as estimated by the patients. At longer intervals (16 h) this effect was reversed and both the hypotensive and the bradycardic actions of clonidine seemed to be impaired. The possible impact of endogenous opioids and alpha-2 receptor sensitivity on these biphasic alterations is discussed.
ISSN:0376-8716
1879-0046
DOI:10.1016/0376-8716(92)90026-9