Opium withdrawal and some blood biochemical factors in addicts' individuals

Mehdi Mahmoodi, Seyed-Mostafa Hosseini-Zijoud, Javad Hosseini, Ahmadreza Sayyadi, Mohammadreza Hajizadeh, Gholamhossein Hassanshahi, Behrooz Hashemi

Clinical Biochemistry, Department Of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Rafsanjan, Iran.
Clinical Biochemistry, Molecular Medicine Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
Department of Psycho-Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedics, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
Emergency Medicine Specialist, Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
Molecular Medicine Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.

DOI: 10.4236/abc.2012.22020                

Abstract

Objective: One of the common misinterpretation be- liefs in some societies (especially eastern communities) is the using of opium can reduce serum glucose and lipids. Opium is a derivative from a plant family called Papaveracea and contains almost 80 types of alkaloids. Drug addiction causes physiological dependency and its withdrawal lead to some disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of opium consumption and its withdrawal on some blood biochemical factors in addicted people. Methods: We enrolled fifty-six opium addicted people according to the especial criteria to this study. Biochemical blood parameter levels such as fasting blood sugar (FBS), urea, Creatinine (Cr), Aspartate transaminase (AST), Alanine transaminase (ALT) and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzymes levels were measured and urine analysis was also performed before and 3 months after withdrawal. Data were analyzed by using SPSS software version 18 and a P < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: our finding showed that opium withdrawal reduces FBS and increases AST but these changes were not significant. Nevertheless opium withdrawal significantly increased blood urea level (P < 0.0001). We didn’t find any significant difference in Cr, ALP, AST and Urea specific gravity (SG). Conclusion: According to the results of the current study we can concluded that opium increases FBS, which is in contrast to the most previous studies and withdrawal has opposite effects.

Keywords

Opium; Addiction; Withdrawal; Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS)

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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