Ondansetron 'could be used in treatment for addiction'

Categories

Addiction Treatment
Alcohol
Drugs
Gambling
In the papers
On TV

News Archive

Home » News » Drugs » Ondansetron 'could be used in treatment for addiction'

by Change | 18 Feb 2009

Bookmark

E-mail

Ondansetron could allow the suppression of symptoms associated with opioid dependencies such as heroin addiction.

A new study asserts that non-addictive medicine can prevent withdrawal symptoms from opioids with little likelihood of side effects, which could impact on rehab clinics' approach to this issue.

Research published in the Journal of Pharmacogenetics and Genomics shows ondansetron, a treatment currently used for vomiting and nausea, can help people overcome dependencies on this class of substance.

Dr Larry Chu, lead author and assistant professor of anaesthesia at Stanford University School of Medicine, claims opioid abuse is growing at the fastest rate of any drug.

He warns that only one in four of those with dependencies such as heroin or codeine addiction seek treatment at a rehab clinic.

Dr Chu states: "One barrier to treatment is that when you abruptly stop taking the drugs, there is a constellation of symptoms associated with withdrawal."

He says a magic bullet is needed to tackle these symptoms without the risk of creating a second addiction but insists this is "not a cure for addiction".

The Mount Airy News recently reported that a new rehab clinic for women is opening in Surry county offering a two-year programme followed by twelve months of outpatient follow-up.

Bookmark this: