Jornal de Toxicologia Clínica
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Probiotics as a Complementary Method in Accelerating the Treatment of Opioid Poisoning: A Clinical Trial with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium Strains

Mahnaz Tajdari, Mitra Rahimi, Shahin Shadnia, Peyman Erfan Talab Evini*

Introduction: The amount of opioids used in Iran is estimated at one million and two hundred thousand people. Probiotic force-feeding containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum can increase the effectiveness of initial treatment and intravenous naloxone as an antidote and accelerate recovery.

Materials and methods: In this randomized controlled clinical trial study, 30 patients with acute opioid poisoning were studied. In addition to treatment with naloxone and other control therapies, half of the patients were treated with probiotics and the other half with placebo. Patients were randomly assigned to one of the two case or control groups and the case group underwent standard probiotic force-feeding every eight hours for seven days. Data from the study were analyzed by SPSS software version 16. Results: The results of the present study showed that one week of treatment with probiotics caused a significant increase in glutathione antioxidant levels compared to before the intervention. In contrast, glutathione levels in the placebo group decreased considerably. Vitamin B6 levels after treatment with probiotics increased meaningfully compared to before the intervention, while in the placebo group, this amount decreased significantly compared to before the intervention. The difference in the mean level of serum glutathione and vitamin B6 in both groups (probiotics and placebo) was statistically significant before and after the intervention (P<0.0001).

Conclusion: Taking probiotics containing Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium in combination with routine opioid poisoning treatments can improve the signs and symptoms of acute poisoning and increase the effectiveness of naloxone.