Naloxone-induced withdrawal in patients with buprenorphine dependence.

Naloxone-induced withdrawal was studied in seven patients currently dependent only on injecting buprenorphine, within 3 to 6 hours of their last dose. Withdrawal severity began to rise from 5 minutes and reached a peak at 60 minutes after 1.2 mg naloxone given intravenously. The mean withdrawal severity score was significantly higher at 30, 60 and 90 minutes compared to the baseline. The most frequent withdrawal signs and symptoms were mydriasis, systolic hypertension, tachypnoea, muscle pains, yawning, anxiety, restlessness and craving.