Objectives: Neurox is an inhibitor of free-radical processes, membrane protector, having anti-hypoxic, stress-protective, repulsive, anticonvulsant and anxiolytic effects. The drug increases the organism resistance to the effects of various damaging factors and oxygen dependent pathology – shock, hypoxia and ischemia, cerebrovascular disease, narcotic and antipsychotic (neuroleptics) drugs intoxications. The Neurox improves cerebral metabolism and blood circulation of the brain, improves microcirculation and blood rheology, reduces platelet aggregation. Neurox showed high efficacy in the treatment of withdrawal symptoms in heroin addiction with somatic-neurological manifestations.
Methods: In a study conducted at a narcological hospital, 50 patients with heroin dependence in the state of withdrawal were recruited. The age of patients - 21-42 years. Duration of disease was 4-7 years with an average of 5.5 years. The severity of the abstinence status was assessed in 35 patients (70%) as average, 15 patients (30%) - as heavy. All patients were divided into two groups to 25 patients (main and backup). The main clinical-dynamic and socio-demographic groups did not differ. All patients of basic group were injected neuroxas instructed by the following scheme: 300 mg intravenous injection of 10 ml isotonic solution of sodium chloride 2 times daily for the first 3 days, then 300 mg intramuscularly once a day for 5 days with subsequent transition to the tablet formulation of 125 mg 3 times a day for 13 days. Treatment was carried out on the background of the basic treatment, including detoxification and restorative agents. Patients of the control group have conducted the only traditional complex therapy.
Results: Neurox demonstrated a high therapeutic efficacy in our study. The therapeutic effect of neurox started within the first hours of injection. In neurovegetative disorders of withdrawal syndrome, neurox had a pronounced vegetal stabilizing effect. A higher therapeutic activity neurox was observed in relieving symptoms such as pain, insomnia, somatic complaints (already on the 2nd day of the treatment). On the 3rd day of the treatment, stabilized emotional state and significantly improved physical condition of patients were observed as disappeared uneasiness, anxiety, aggression, restored the sleep and appetite, decreased the severity of symptoms such as pain, insomnia, somatic complaints, and observed their full reduction to 5th day of treatment. In addition, in patients of main group tension, and irritability were quelled, resulting in daytime tranquility and lack of health complaints. Subjectively patients reported improvement in mood on the 10th day of the therapy. Pathological craving for the drug disappeared on the 3rd day of treatment. Anxiety and a sense of inner tension were fully reduced in the control group, on the 10th day therapy; however the depressed mood and expressed craving for the drug throughout the treatment period, remained. No side effects were reported and no drop out was recorded in neurox group; 50 patients completed the study.
Conclusion: The study showed therapeutic efficacy and safety of neurox in relieving different variants of the withdrawal syndrome. It is established that neurox is most effective as a therapeutic agent for the relief of neurovegetative and psychopathic variants of withdrawal syndrome in connection with its expressed vegeto-stabilized and tranquilizing effect.