Are alpha2-adrenergic agonists effective treatment for opioid withdrawal?
BEEM Bottom Line
Why is this study important?
People with opioid use disorder often experience acute withdrawal when tapering or unable to access sufficient opioids. Irritability, muscular and abdominal pains, sweating and opioid cravings are common symptoms from noradrenergic hyperactivity and can be so severe as to prompt sufferers to seek emergency care. In the emergency department (ED), it is either impossible or inappropriate to prescribe opioids for these patients. Alpha2-adrenergic agonists (A2AA) treatments such as clonidine, lofexidine, guanfacine, and tizanidine are an alternative treatment of unknown effectiveness.
Which, if any, threats to validity are most likely to have an impact on the results and how?
Thank you for your interest in the BEEM Journal!
To read the rest of this article or to access the entire collection of BEEM Critical Appraisals, please purchase a subscription at the link below.
If you would like a pre-view, click here to view some sample articles
- Article Number
- 170501
- Research Question
- Is it safe to rule out acute pulmonary embolism with stand-alone D-dimer testing below 750 µg/L?
- Article Number
- 160404
- Research Question
- What are the latest recommendations for the management of venous thromboembolism?
- Article Number
- 160205
- Research Question
- How well does oblique angle chest X-ray identify occult pneumothorax in trauma patients?
- Article Number
- 160101
- Research Question
- Is continuous positive airway pressure by helmet effective in the treatment of infants with bronchiolitis?
Premium Content Available Through Subscription
BEEM is a knowledge translation project which aims to extract the most recent, EM relevant, and valid evidence from the volumes of available medical research and deliver it to EM practitioners in an easily consumable format to help guide their clinical practice. This valuable distilled information provided by BEEM is available through BEEM's accredited CME courses or through our online journal.
A BEEM Journal Subscription will provide you with unlimited access to our entire collection of Critical Appraisals for 1 year.