Pregabalin for the reduction of opiate withdrawal symptoms].

Nina Kämmerer, Tagrid Lemenager, Martin Grosshans, Falk Kiefer, Derik Hermann

Klinik für Abhängiges Verhalten und Suchtmedizin, Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, Mannheim. nina.kaemmerer@zi-mannheim.de

Psychiatrische Praxis 2012 Oct

filter terms:

Pregabalin is a substance which modulates monoamine release in "hyper-excited" neurons. It binds potently to the α2-δ subunit of calcium channels. Pilotstudies on alcohol- and benzodiazepine dependent patients reported a reduction of withdrawal symptoms through Pregabalin. To our knowledge, no studies have been conducted so far assessing this effect in opiate dependent patients. We report the case of a 43-year-old patient with Pregabalin intake during opiate withdrawal. Multiple inpatient and outpatient detoxifications from maintenance replacement therapy with Buprenorphine in order to reach complete abstinence did not show success because of extended withdrawal symptoms and repeated drug intake. Finally he disrupted his heroine intake with a simultaneously self administration of 300 mg Pregabaline per day and was able to control the withdrawal symptoms. In this time we did control the Pregabalin level in serum and urine in our outpatient clinic. In the course the patient reported that he could treat further relapse with opiate or opioids with Pregabalin successful. This case shows first details for Pregabalin to relief withdrawal symptoms in opiate withdrawal. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Citation

Nina Kämmerer, Tagrid Lemenager, Martin Grosshans, Falk Kiefer, Derik Hermann. Pregabalin for the reduction of opiate withdrawal symptoms]. Psychiatrische Praxis. 2012 Oct;39(7):351-2