Opioid withdrawal resident survival guide

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vidit Bhargava, M.B.B.S [2]

Definition

Opioids have analgesic and CNS depressant properties. These are sometimes abused outside of their clinical effects to achieve euphoria. Tolerance and physiological dependence develops when these are used chronically, any abrupt cessation precipitates an array of signs & symptoms called as withdrawal. Shown below is a table indicative of time to withdrawal symptoms for different opioids:

Opioid	Peak withdrawal symptoms	Duration of symptoms
Heroin	36-72 hours	7-10 days
Methadone	72-96 hours	14 days
Buprenorphine	36-72 hours	7 days

Causes

Life Threatening Causes

Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated. Opioid withdrawal is a life-threatening condition and must be treated as such irrespective of the causes.

Common Causes

• Discontinuation of heroin
• Discontinuation of methadone
• Rapid detoxification with naloxone or naltrexone in opioid dependent subjects
• Use of partial agonists (buprenorphine) and/or agonist-antagonists (pentazocine) in subjects not known to be opioid dependent

Management

Shown below is an algorithm summarizing the approach to [[Opioid withdrawal]].

Characterize the symptoms: ❑ Flu like illness ❑ Lacrimation/rhinorrhea ❑ Sneezing ❑ Anorexia ❑ Nausea, vomiting & diarrhea

Examine the patient: ❑ Pupillary dilatation ❑ Gooseflesh (piloerection) ❑ Yawning ❑ Increased bowel sounds

Consider alternative diagnosis: ❑ Alcohol withdrawal ❑ Sedative hypnotic withdrawal ❑ Cholinergic poisoning ❑ Sympathomimetic intoxication

Admit the patient

Opioid agonists: ❑ Methadone (pure agonist) 20-35 mg daily or ❑ Buprenorphine (partial agonist) 4-16 mg daily ❑ Taper by 3% daily over next several days Nonopioid drugs: ❑ Clonidine 0.2 mg every 4 hours tapered after day 3 or ❑ Lofexidine 0.2 mg BD daily, titrated to 1.2 mg BD daily ❑ Treatment duration 10 days for heroin; 14 days for methadone ❑ General symptomatic management ❑ Consult psychiatry

Detoxification

Rapid detoxification: For a patient receiving about 8 mg of buprenorphine (or 35 mg methadone) ❑ Naltrexone 25 mg day 1 ❑ Naltrexone 50 mg days 2 to 15 Clonidine 0.1-0.2 mg four times daily, tapered on days 2 and 3 ❑ Use both drugs to achieve better results

Ultra rapid detoxification: ❑ Needs to be performed only be experienced practitioners ❑ Anesthesize patient ❑ Intubate and place on mechanical ventilation ❑ Induce acute withdrawal with naloxone

Dont's

• Do not abruptly stop drugs that are being used to treat withdrawal.