Author: John Carter

Dextromethorphan and Quinidine Combination for Heroin Detoxification PMC

The groups differed in current employment status, with greater unemployment in the DM/Q arm. The second group received clonidine 0.4–1.2 mg per day in three divided doses according to the patient’s tolerance, Clonazepam 1 mg every eight hours, acetaminophen 500 mg every six hours, and dextromethorphan 75 mg every six hours. This fresh start gives them time to learn the skills they need to stay sober when they return home, enter an outpatient program, or go to a sober living home. Pairing a medically assisted detox with therapy is one of the best ways to help an addict understand their addiction.

1. Training included repeated ratings of patients in different stages of withdrawal until an acceptable level of inter-rater reliability was achieved.
2. However the objective symptoms could still measure their symptoms to a good extent.
3. This dosing protocol would appear to put the user in the 1st plateau, so one wouldn’t have to worry about the psychotomimetic effects of the upper plateaus.
4. Discussion of all things related to the narcotics known as opiates, from harm-reduction to pharmacology.
5. Some pharmacological agents (opioid agonists, opioid agonist-antagonists, opioid antagonists, and alpha-2 agonists) are studied and used in opioid detoxification 2.

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While those who are taking methadone cannot get high from opioids, the medication can produce a more limited high. Unfortunately, deaths caused by dextromethorphan are common among those who misuse it. This is due to “megadosing” where users take large amounts of the cough syrup in a short period of time. Many who misuse DXM also mix the medication which can cause deadly interactions. All withdrawal symptoms except perspiration and emesis (vomiting) were significantly less in the dextromethorphan group. After reading a ton of literature from different sources and watching many YouTube videos on DXM, I can see both the benefits and potential dangers of using DXM for opiate withdrawal.

Where To Purchase DXM For Opiate Withdrawal

Some pharmacological agents (opioid agonists, opioid agonist-antagonists, opioid antagonists, and alpha-2 agonists) are studied and used in opioid detoxification 2. The efficacy of clonidine (as an alpha-2 agonist) in controlling the withdrawal symptoms is established in randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials 3. Consequently the use of alpha-2 agonists (e.g., clonidine) and NMDA antagonists (e.g., dextromethorphan, ketamine) may minimize the tolerance phenomenon and decrease the withdrawal symptoms 4. Simultaneously there have been efforts to increase the bioavailability of dextromethorphan as well. Authors found that this combination was ineffective in reducing the withdrawal symptoms compared to placebo and most of the patients left the study in six days due to the severity of symptoms. In the patients receiving clonidine alone the withdrawal symptoms increased across the study and reached their most severity after 72 hours from admission, while patients who received dextromethorphan and clonidine experienced milder symptoms.

Instead of the usual awareness of one’s body and environment, there is now awareness of nothing. This “white-out” can lead to a total loss of self-awareness, and at very high doses, the incapacity for speech and movement. As dosages of DXM increase, the effects change and are commonly referred to as plateaus, of which there are four.

Levels of Care

They perform medical evaluations to address all health problems and even untreated mental disorders that may hinder a person’s recovery. After the detox and medical evaluation phase, an inpatient treatment center helps addicts to build a solid foundation. While DXM is an over-the-counter and prescription medication, it is commonly misused.

The purpose of this article is to provide you with accurate and helpful information regarding the use of DXM in the treatment of opiate withdrawal. If you want to learn about the use of DXM for opiate withdrawal, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve been researching and writing about natural and medication-based opiate withdrawal remedies for years, and I recently learned about DXM’s ability to positively affect the withdrawal syndrome.

Molecular genetics of CYP2D6: clinical relevance with focus on psychotropic drugs

Unlike heroin or cocaine, it is widely available in pharmacies, and its use is widespread. The dosage used by those who misuse the medication to get high exceeds 240 mg. This is much higher than the amount used when using DXM for withdrawal or for a common cold.

Studies on Dextromethorphan and Opioid Detox

Friends and family members often think that they should be able to quit using on their own. There are other medications used during detox, but they have much more serious side effects than DXM. Methadone, for example, is used a lot, but many replace the opioid addiction with an addiction to methadone instead.

Achieving success in the first step of treatment might promise further accomplishments. A single-blind study by Bisaga et al. (1997) evaluated the role of dextromethorphan in relief of withdrawal symptoms. They used dextromethorphan (75 mg five times a day) and the result confirmed its efficacy in decreasing the withdrawal symptoms and craving. Authors suggested that it may shorten the detoxification period compared to methadone 19. A randomized clinical trial by Koyuncuoglu and Saydam in 1990 compared the efficacy of dextromethorphan and diazepam to a combination of chlorpromazine and diazepam on treating withdrawal symptoms of heroin. They showed that those patients receiving dextromethorphan and diazepam would experience milder withdrawal symptoms 5.

At the low end of the spectrum (first plateau), DXM produces an excitatory state of pleasure similar to stimulants such as cocaine. The sound of music becomes increasingly pleasant, as auditory stimulation is greatly enhanced. Join 40,000+ People Who Receive Our Newsletter Get valuable resources on addiction, recovery, wellness, and our treatments delivered directly to your inbox. This is especially true when combined with other over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen for pain relief. Many who misuse DXM make the mistake of believing that it is a much “safer” addiction than hard drugs.