Deaddicta® for maintenance treatment of Opioid-dependence: A six-month follow-up.

Background: Opioid dependence, is one of the world's most critical health problems. Deaddicta is a herbal product considered an effective treatment for opioid addiction. Deaddicta's efficacy in the maintenance treatment of patients with opioid use disorder has recently been demonstrated through a double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT). This study aimed to evaluate the permanence of Deaddicta's efficacy six months after the end of the maintenance treatment for opioid dependence. Methods: This study was performed following the previous RCT on the maintenance treatment of opioid addicts. Out of 41 participants who completed the study for three months in the previous research, 15 from the intervention group (Deaddicta capsules, 1500 mg/day) returned for follow-up. They all previously fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for addiction, were aged 18 to 65, and had discontinued Deaddicta for six months. The outcome measures included addiction severity, depression and anxiety levels, and craving score. The scores of each parameter were compared in three phases: before intervention; after three months of intervention; and six months after the end of the study. Results: Depression, anxiety, and craving scores decreased six months after the end of the previous study. This decrease was significant in the craving score (P = 0.011). No significant increase was observed in the frequency of use. The regression analysis showed a negative relationship between craving and the progression of phases. Conclusion: The Deaddicta product may have desirable and effective properties in decreasing temptation and, as a result, the maintenance treatment of opioid dependence.

Mizaj assessment in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients based on Persian Medicine.

OBJECTIVES: Increased incidence of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) calls for supporting complementary therapies in this field. Persian Medicine (PM) specialists present various assumptions to help patients through Mizaj (temperament) modification, but its confirmation requires scientific evidence. This study aimed at identifying the Mizaj of MS patients, and comparing it with their Mizaj before the onset of the disease, and with that of healthy people. METHODS: Forty-two MS and fifty-four healthy subjects participated in the study as case and control groups. General and brain Mizaj in patients were identified by five PM specialists before and after the onset of the disease. Mojahedi Mizaj Questionnaire (MMQ) was completed by the two groups. The validity of MMQ was assessed using Mizaj diagnosis by PM specialists as the gold standard. T-test, McNemar-Bowker, Wilcoxon, and Chi-square (χ 2) tests were used to compare the Mizaj of patients before and after the onset of the disease, and between the two groups (p<0.05). RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of MMQ for Hotness (75, 81%) and Coldness (75, 65%) were acceptable. There were no significant differences between patients and healthy subjects in terms of general Mizaj. But general and brain Mizaj of patients after developing MS inclined to coldness and dryness, although merely inclination of general Mizaj to coldness was significant (p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, the Mizaj of MS patients has an inclination toward coldness and dryness; Also, MMQ can be used as a validated scale for identifying the Mizaj of MS patients in future studies.

Hab-o Shefa, a Persian Medicine Compound for Maintenance Treatment of Opioid Dependence: Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Objectives: The major problem in maintenance treatment of opioid use disorder is craving and relapse. The utilization of herbal compounds and complementary therapy for treatment of disease and addiction has been widely expanding. Considering the significant effect of Hab-o Shefa in detoxification phase, this clinical trial has explored the influence of this compound on maintenance treatment of opioid-dependent patients. This product is made of four herbs, including Datura stramonium L., Rheum palmatum L., Zingiber officinale Roscoe, and Acacia senegal L. Design: The authors conducted a two-group parallel randomized double-blind clinical trial on 81 opioid-dependent patients within 12 weeks. After medically assisted detoxification, participants were assigned randomly to Hab-o Shefa (n = 41) and placebo (n = 40). Outcome measures included craving assessed by craving beliefs questionnaire, self-reported opioid use, and lapse (any opioid-positive urine test) according to urinalysis and addiction severity index-lite questionnaire, retention in treatment, and depression and anxiety scores on the Hamilton's anxiety and depression scales. Results: Forty-one participants completed the study for 12 weeks, 21 subjects in the drug group and 20 subjects in the placebo group. The rates of opioid-positive urine tests and self-reported opioid use were significantly lower in Hab-o Shefa group (f = 8.41, p = 0.001). Hab-o Shefa also indicated a significant superiority over placebo in the effect of treatment by time interaction for craving (f = 5.91, p = 0.001), depression (f = 3.40, p = 0.01), and anxiety (f = 2.58, p = 0.035). The retention time was 66.6 days for drug group and 59.6 days for placebo one. Although the causes for dropping out in two groups were different, there was no significant difference (p = 0.623). The side effects of the two groups were not significantly different. Conclusion: Results indicated that Hab-o Shefa could be useful for opioid maintenance treatment, and it can also be considered as a new promising drug for prevention of craving and relapse.

The medieval Persian manuscript of Afyunieh: the first individual treatise on the opium and addiction in history.

According to historical evidence, the abuse of opium has been reported all over the globe-specifically throughout Eastern nations-since the sixteenth century. Before that, opium had mostly been applied as medication. Reference has been made in traditional Persian medical literature to the method of cultivation, properties, side effects and toxicity. In sixteenth century Iran, during the reign of the Safavids, opium abuse began. It was from then that prominent Persian scholars started to think of solutions to this societal problem. One of the most famous scholars was Imad al-Din Mahmud ibn Mas'ud Shirazi, who composed a book concerning addiction-Afyunieh, a comprehensive book on the topic of opium and all issues of opium. Furthermore, he recommended methods for reducing opium dose as well as substitution with other medications that had a narrower range of side effects, in order to eradicate dependency upon opium and opium-derived materials. This is most likely the first book that comprehensively addressed opium and discussed drug rehabilitation methodology, in traditional Persian medical literature. In this historical review, the authors have introduced the book Afyunieh, which presents methods for treating addiction to and giving up opium; the text comprises a synthesis of the author's opinions, professional experience and references to the work of other famous physicians.