Article Text
Summary
This study investigated a 51-year-old married man with a history of heroin dependence who underwent methadone maintenance treatment for 7 years. He received traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-facilitated treatments and switched from methadone to buprenorphine/naloxone. Strong anxiety symptoms were observed during the initial stage; therefore, we prescribed a combination of Chaihu-Shugan-San, Zhi Bai Di Huang and Chin-Gin-Kuan-Ming decoction as the major herbal synergic regimen to relieve the symptoms of opioid withdrawal, anxiety and insomnia. During the treatment course, no precipitating withdrawal syndromes were noted, and the subject was gradually relieved of his anxiety symptoms through continual TCM treatments. In conclusion, TCM is effective in facilitating the switch from methadone to buprenorphine/naloxone and relieving anxiety symptoms. Therefore, focus on TCM-facilitated treatments for heroin dependence should be increased.
- Complementary Medicine
- Anxiety Disorders (including OCD and PTSD)
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Footnotes
Contributors KCY took care of the whole TCM procedure of treating the patient, and accepted the advice on paper direction from CHH for writing the paper. HTW took care of the whole methadone medicine treatment of the patient, and gave the information of methadone dosage. YHY offered support and affirmation to the patient. CHH gave great advice on drafting the structure of the paper, and the direction of treatment.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.