Effect of add-on gabapentin on opioid withdrawal symptoms in opium-dependent patients

ABSTRACT Aims Evaluation of the efficacy of gabapentin in patients undergoing out‐patient treatment for opiate withdrawal. Design A 3‐week double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial of adjunctive gabapentin in methadone‐assisted detoxification (MAD). Setting Specialized Addictive Behaviors Unit, an out‐patient unit for the treatment of patients with an addictive disorder serving the city of Isfahan (Iran). Participants Forty out‐patients, 37 males and three females, aged 21–61 years, who met DSM‐IV criteria for opiate dependence. Intervention Random assignment of subjects to receive adjunctive treatment with either gabapentin (900 mg/day) or placebo under double‐blind conditions. Measurements Severity of subjective withdrawal symptoms using the Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale at six stages. Findings Despite the superiority of gabapentin on controlling some of withdrawal symptoms, no significant differences were reported between two groups. Conclusions Dosage of 900 mg/day of gabapentin is not significantly superior to placebo in controlling opiate withdrawal symptoms.