Medication of l-tetrahydropalmatine significantly ameliorates opiate craving and increases the absti

Aim: Drug addiction is a chronic brain disease with constant relapse requiring
long-term treatment. New pharmacological strategies focus on the development
of an effective antirelapse drug. This study examines the effects of levotetrahydropalmatine
(l-THP) on reducing heroin craving and increasing the abstinence
rate among heroin-dependent patients. Methods: In total, 120 heroin-dependent
patients participated in the randomized, double-blinded, and placebocontrolled
study using l-THP treatment. The participants remained in a ward
during a 4-week period of l-THP treatment, followed by 4 weeks of observation
after treatment. The patients were followed for 3 months after discharge. Outcome
measures are the measured severity of the protracted abstinence withdrawal
syndrome (PAWS) and the abstinence rate. Results: Four weeks of l-THP treatment
significantly ameliorated the severity of PAWS, specifically, somatic
syndrome, mood states, insomnia, and drug craving, in comparison to the placebo
group. Based on the 3 month follow-up observation, participants who survived
the initial 2 weeks of l-THP medication and remained in the trial program had a
significantly higher abstinence rate of 47.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 33%–
67%) than the 15.2% in the placebo group (95% CI: 7%–25%), according to a log–
rank test (P