Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences

Published by : PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS

ISSN 1681-715X

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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Volume 23

April - June 2007 (Part-II)

Number 3


 

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Calcium channel blocker verapamil:
A nonhormonal option for hot flashes management
in patients with acute Opioid Abstinence Syndrome

Munawar Alam Ansari1, Shahida P. Ahmed2, Mehar Ali3
 

ABSTRACT
Objective: Given the problems associated with hormonal therapy, and the prominent problem of hot flashes, there is a need for nonhormonal agents to alleviate hot flashes. Calcium ions play an important role in brain synaptosomes. This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of calcium channel blocker verapamil in hot flashes, the most frequently reported subjective symptom of acute opioid abstinence syndrome.
Methodology: The study was a 10 days single blind, random-assignment, inpatient trial for the patients of opioid abstinence syndrome with a very common symptom, the hot flashes. Twenty patients were given Verapamil, 120mg/ day in divided doses. All patients, who have completed the treatment program, stayed in the hospital for 10 days.
Results: Mean absolute change scores of number of hot flashes per day at endpoint, with baseline scores, showed a highly significant decline with verapamil treatment program.
Conclusion: The investigators found a benefit of verapamil in hot flashes.

KEY WORDS: Calcium Channel Blockers, Hot flashes, Norepinephrine, Verapamil.

Pak J Med Sci   May - June 2007   Vol. 23 No. 3    353-357


1. Dr. Munawar Alam Ansari,
Associate Professor,
Department of Pharmacology,
Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences,
Jamshoro,
Sindh – Pakistan
2. Dr. Shahida P Ahmed,
Professor,
Department of Pharmacology,
Faculty of Pharmacy, Karachi University,
Karachi – Pakistan.
3. Dr. Mehar Ali,
Former Professor & Chairman Pharmacology,
Basic Medical Sciences Institute (BMSI),
Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center,
Karachi – Pakistan.

Correspondence

Dr. Munawar Alam Ansari
E- mail: dr_mnwr@yahoo.com

* Received for Publication: April 21, 2006
* Revision accepted: December 27, 2006



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