NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AMONG THE USERS OF HOMEMADE ARTISANAL EPHEDRONE PSYCHOSTIMULANTS AND INVESTIGATION OF...

60 patients of the Narcological Clinic "Neogene" were enrolled into the study. The following participation criteria were used: a diagnosis of mental and behavioral disorders associated with ephedrone use; withdrawal state. Toxic encephalopathy; age - 20-65 years; gender - male. Patients were selected and diagnosed for the study according to ICD-10 criteria. The study was conducted in compliance with bioethical principles, based on informed consent. The main study group (Group I) consisted of 45 patients and the control group (Group II) - of 15 patients. The study strictly observed anonymity and confidentiality of the participants. Thiogamma drug (alpha-lipoic acid, meglumine salt, manufacturer WÖRWAG PHARMA) with a daily dose of 600 mg was added for a duration of one month, to the standard treatment regimen of the patients of the Group I in both inpatient and outpatient settings. The patients (both inpatient and outpatient) in the Group II were treated with placebo drug along with standard treatment for the same period. Clinico-neurological disorders of the patients were evaluated before and after a one-month therapy course. Neurological examination and Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale - UPDSR - were used. Based on the study materials it can be reported that the users of homemade ephedron group psychostimulants ("Jeff") had neurological disorders, mainly manifested with the symptoms of Parkinson's disease; with well-expressed dystonia, postural instability, pseudobulbar and vegetative syndromes. As a result of the treatment, a decrease in the scores on the UPDSR was observed (improved condition) in patients of both groups, however, the improvement was greater expressed in the patients of Group I where Thiogamma (alpha-lipoic acid meglumine salt) drug was added to the standard treatment protocol. The above results clearly speak to the effectiveness of "Thiogamma" in the treatment of neurological disorders caused by the use of homemade psychostimulants ("Jeff").