Oxygen Could Help Opioid Withdrawal

For the millions of Americans currently living with an opioid use disorder, the thought of withdrawal is frightening. It is one of the major reasons that prescription painkiller and heroin addiction can persist for years, and in some cases even decades. Opioid addicts are fully aware that the drugs they use carry a huge potential for overdose, yet in some cases the risk out outweighs being subject to the pain of withdrawal.

Aside from opioid addicts who suffer from legitimate chronic pain which often leads to continue use, a significant number of people who are dependent on such drugs will relapse shortly after withdrawal begins. Unlike ‘kicking’ other addictive drugs, opioid withdrawal is synonymous with up to two (2) weeks of severe restlessness and discomfort, along with nausea and body aches. Without the assistance of a medical detoxification facility, most addicts will resume use in less than three (3) days after cessation.

However, even with the aid of certain drugs and medical supervision, withdrawal is still not a walk in the park. Finding ways to mitigate the severity of withdrawal could help opioid addicts see the detox period through and begin the journey of recovery before they throw in the towel. New research suggests that the use of pure oxygen in a hyperbaric chamber could ease the pain of opioid withdrawal, according to a Washington State University press release. The findings were published in the journal Brain Research.

The preliminary tests involved mice that were addicted to morphine. Before being withdrawn from the drug the mice were given pure oxygen at 3.5 times atmospheric pressure in a chamber, the article reports. The mice exhibited much less severe withdrawal symptoms and appeared to be calmer, compared to the mice that did not get the same treatment. Currently the use of hyperbaric oxygen treatment is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but hopefully it will be in the future—considering the opioid addiction epidemic the country faces.

"Our research and work that we hope to do in the future should stimulate some clinical researchers to come up with clinical evidence to convince the FDA that this should be an approved indication," said Ray Quock, a pharmacologist and Washington State University psychology professor.