Outcome and six month follow up of patients after Ultra Rapid Opiate Detoxification (URODSM)

Objectives-(1) Evaluate the safety and efficacy of Ultra Rapid Opiate Detox ification (UROD); and (2) evaluate six month outcome data of patients choos ing this method. Design-Two center parallel group clinical trial. No grant funding. Setting-Two academic medical centers. Participants-Ninety-three men and 27 women, aged 18 to 55 years, with opiat e dependency self selected to undergo detoxification. Interventions-UROD followed by naltrexone maintenance and an aftercare prog ram. UROD and aftercare costs were the responsibility of the patients and/o r their significant others. Main Outcomes Measure-(1) Completion of UROD as determined by a non reactiv e response to a naloxone challenge test under anesthesia and non reactive r esponse to naltroxone administration before discharge. (2) Patient outcome: as determined at six month follow up of UROD patients' self reported relap se free status confirmed by urine drug screen, significant other reports, a nd/or therapist reports. Results-One hundred percent successful detoxification with UROD with low mo rbidity and no mortality. Relapse data were available for 111/123 procedure s performed (90%), with 61/111 patients (55%) with reported relapse free st atus at the six month follow up interval. Conclusions-For individuals who are addicted to opioids, the Ultra Rapid Op iate Detoxification method appears to be a viable treatment option.