Self-administration of clonidine and oxazepam by methadone detoxification patients

The benzodiazepines and clonidine have frequently been used to alleviate withdrawal symptoms during methadone detoxification. The purpose of the present study was to examine the extent and pattern of self-administration of clonidine and oxazepam during methadone detoxification and to examine the extent to which these drugs alleviate the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Two groups of methadone detoxification patients were used. In one group we compared clonidine and placebo, and in the second group we compared oxazepam and placebo. The procedures used were the same for both groups and consisted of two components: (1) to assess efficacy, patients were given exposure to active drug and placebo, and the acute effects of the two agents and their effects on withdrawal symptoms were monitored; and (2) to assess drug preference, following the forced exposure, subjects were given the opportunity to self-administer the drug of their choice and to choose the dose of that drug. These preference data gave an indication of patient acceptability of the drug and possibly some measure of abuse liability. The two components were repeated six times over the course of the detoxification to assess the relationship between drug efficacy and preference and withdrawal symptomatology.