Symptomatic relief in opiate withdrawal
Infectious diseases
Below are some of the symptoms commonly experienced during opiate withdrawal and prescribing suggestions (see BNF for further information).
| Nausea and vomiting | Metoclopramide |
ORAL or IM injection: 10mg, 8 hourly, up to a maximum of 30mg in 24 hours. See BNF for dosing advice if body weight <60kg |
| Pain | Ibuprofen | ORAL: 400mg, 4 - 6 hourly, up to a maximum of 2.4g in 24 hours |
| Diarrhoea | Loperamide | ORAL: 2mg as required, up to a maximum of 16mg in 24 hours |
| Stomach cramps | Hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan®) | ORAL: 20mg as required, 6-8 hourly, up to a maximum of 80mg in 24 hours |
| Sleep difficulties | Consider zopiclone for short term use rather than a benzodiazepine | ORAL: 3.75mg - 7.5mg once daily at night |