The treatment of narcotic withdrawal: a historical review

The history of narcotic withdrawal treatment is filled with "cures" enthusiastically received and then quietly dropped when they turned out to be either ineffective, dangerous, or both. Methods reviewed include the Towns-Lambert belladonna treatment, sodium thiocyanate, bromide sleep treatment, Narcosan, insulin, autogenous serum, ECT, hibernation, methadone, phenothiazines, propranolol, propoxyphene, acupuncture, vitamin C, and the naloxone flush. There is need to be aware of the psychologic as well as physical aspects of withdrawal. Better detoxification techniques would help patients who are ready to discontinue the use of methadone as well as those who want to start naltrexone treatment.