High-risk behaviors and hospitalizations among gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) users.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Kim SY
PROVIDER: S-EPMC2257866 | biostudies-literature | 2007
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
High-risk behaviors and hospitalizations among gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) users.
Kim Susan Y SY Anderson Ilene B IB Dyer Jo Ellen JE Barker Judith C JC Blanc Paul D PD
The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse 20070101 3
<h4>Introduction</h4>Little is known about behaviors linked to gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) morbidity.<h4>Methods</h4>We surveyed 131 GHB users, using logistic regression to test the associations between the high risk behaviors and hospital treatment for GHB (26 [20%] of subjects).<h4>Results</h4>Increased risk of GHB hospital treatment was associated with: co-ingestion of ethanol (OR 5.2; 95% CI 1.7-16), driving under the influence of GHB (OR 3.2; 95%, CI 1.3-7.8),use of GHB to treat withdrawal ...[more]
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Project description:BackgroundGamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) dependence is associated with a severe, potentially lethal, withdrawal syndrome and relapse rates as high as 60% within 3 months of detoxification. Baclofen has been shown to decrease self-administration of GHB in mice and reduce relapse in a case series of GHB-dependent patients. Controlled studies on the effectiveness of baclofen to prevent relapse in GHB-dependent patients are lacking.AimThe aim of this study was to assess effectiveness of baclofen in preventing relapse in GHB-dependent patients.MethodsThis was an out-patient, multicentre, open-label, non-randomized, controlled trial in GHB-dependent patients (n = 107) in the Netherlands. Treatment as usual (TAU, n = 70) was compared with TAU plus baclofen 45-60 mg/day for 3 months (n = 37). Outcome measures were rates of lapse (any use) and relapse (using GHB on average once a week or more), based on self-report. Side effects were monitored with a baclofen side-effects questionnaire. Treatment groups were compared using Chi square analyses, with both per-protocol (PP) and intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses.ResultsGHB-dependent patients treated with baclofen after detoxification showed no reduced lapse rates, but reduced relapse and dropout rates, compared with patients receiving TAU only (24 vs 50%). While both ITT and PP analyses revealed similar results, the effectiveness of baclofen prescribed PP was slightly higher than in ITT analysis. Patients reported overall limited side effects, with the most frequently reported being feeling tired (28%), sleepiness (14%) and feeling depressed (14%). No serious adverse events were reported.ConclusionsThis study showed potential effectiveness of baclofen in preventing relapse in patients with GHB dependence after detoxification. Though promising, future studies with longer follow-up and a randomized double-blind design should confirm these findings before recommendations for clinical practice can be made.Clinical trial registrationNetherlands Trial Register with number NTR4528.
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