PHENOBARBITAL VS CLONAZEPAM IN THE OUTPATIENT SEDATIVE DETOXIFICATIONOF METHADONE-MAINTAINED PATIENTS

The authors used either phenobarbital or clonazepam to detoxify 25 sed ative-dependent patients enrolled in an outpatient methadone-maintenan ce treatment program Sedatives abused by patients included glutethimid e, diazepam, alprazolam, and lorazepam. There were no reported seizure s. Urine drug screening results indicated that only a minority of the patients were able to ''detox'' and stay off sedatives. The authors re port on patient demographics, sedative abuse history, detoxification a gent, dosage, and tapering schedules.