Anti-epileptic drugs in opiate addictions

Abstract

Introduction

Mood dysregulation came to be a hallmark in addiction diseases.

Objectives

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are used extensively to treat non-epilepsy disorders, such as mood disorder. Addiction disease may be triggered by bipolar disorder. Contemporary theories of addiction focus on pathophysiological mechanisms that imply a misbalance in the area of motivational behaviour, cognitive control, inhibitory function and decision-making processes.

The aim of the study was to confirm the clinical significance of AEDs use in the treatment of opiate addicts during hospital detoxification and in stabilizing period.

Methods

The prospective study comprised 70 medical histories of the patients treated in hospital setting over a period August 2015–2016. The study included patients with diagnosis of an opiate dependence and related mood disorders based on the ICD-10 classification. The rate of opiate withdrawal syndrome was measured by Objective Withdrawal Scale (OWS).

Results

Our data uncovered a significant correlation between addiction and bipolar disorders, since 21% of inpatients treatment have co-morbidity. According to a survey, 74% of patients were treated with AEDs during detoxification period and in outpatients setting 1 month later. According to OWS in 65% cases AEDs improved the mood and affect, numbness, sensitivity.

Conclusion

AEDs role in opiate withdrawal syndrome was to normalize the affect, applied as an adjuvant therapy and also used during the recovery, in order to correct mood fluctuations. The high rate of co-morbid mental illnesses between addiction and other mental disorders argues for a comprehensive approach to evaluate each disorder concurrently, providing treatment as needed.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.