A comparative clinical study of the effect of WeiniCom, a Chinese herbal compound, on alleviation of withdrawal symptoms and craving for heroin in detoxification treatment.

Abstract	WeiniCom is a Chinese herbal compound. The purposes of this double blind study were to evaluate (1) the efficacy of WeiniCom in reducing acute opioid withdrawal symptoms and craving, and (2) the side effects of WeiniCom, in each instance by comparing WeiniCom with buprenorphine, an established opioid detoxification treatment agent. Forty-two heroin addicts meeting the criteria of dependence in DSM-IV were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: a WeiniCom group (21 cases), and a buprenorphine group (21 cases). The Withdrawal Symptom Rating Scale and the Craving Rating Scale were employed to assess acute withdrawal symptoms and craving for heroin, and the Side Effects Rating Scale was used to measure side effects in the 14-treatment period. Both the WeiniCom and buprenorphine treatments are well-tolerated and very safe. Overall, the relief from opioid withdrawal symptoms and craving was better in the WeiniCom group than in the buprenorphine group. The rate of reduction in the severity of the withdrawal symptoms was faster in the WeiniCom group than in the buprenorphine group. By day nine to 10, the WeiniCom group showed very few withdrawal symptoms. In contrast, from day five on, the buprenorphine group continued to report relatively high scores for withdrawal symptoms and craving. WeiniCom demonstrated positive effects quickly, and required a shorter treatment period to achieve a desired degree of elimination of acute withdrawal symptoms and craving.
Authors	W Hao, M Zhao
Journal	Journal of psychoactive drugs (J Psychoactive Drugs) 2000 Jul-Sep Vol. 32 Issue 3 Pg. 277-84 ISSN: 0279-1072 [Print] United States
PMID	11061678 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References	Drugs, Chinese Herbal Narcotic Antagonists Buprenorphine Heroin
Topics	Adult Animals Buprenorphine (adverse effects, therapeutic use) Demography Drugs, Chinese Herbal (adverse effects, therapeutic use) Female Heroin (adverse effects) Humans Motivation Narcotic Antagonists (adverse effects, therapeutic use) Substance Withdrawal Syndrome (drug therapy)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.

Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!