چکيده

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of present study was to review the literature for advantages and shortcomings of ultra rapid detoxification. This method often is performed with naloxone and naltrexone with symptoms of withdrawal controlled under general anesthesia or deep sleep. Method: More than 70 full text articles were studied they were looked up in Medline, from 1985 to 2002, using the key words, naltrexone, naloxone, ultra rapid detoxification, and treat-ment under general anesthesia. In the compilation of the present article, 42 related articles were used.

Results: Adequate number of articles does not exist to merit an accurate judgment and an ultimate conclusion. Most evaluations lacked basic research standards such as having a cont-rol group or random sampling method they only addressed various methods, dangers, and short-term results of the method. Other studies are recommended where they may compare methods, compare the treatment group with placebo, and possess comparable groups under-going treatments with comparable follow up times. Until new results are arrived, chronic and difficult users should be treated with alternative methods and patients with high motivation and short length of drug history may undergo treatment with naltrexone as discussed in the article.