Researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences are recruiting people for a study to find a solution to withdrawal symptoms suffered by opioid addicts going through detoxification. Chronic users of opioid drugs - including heroin and prescription painkillers - eventually develop a physiological dependence on them. When a user stops taking the drugs, flu-like withdrawal symptoms such as abdominal cramps, runny nose, nausea and vomiting can occur, leading many users to begin using the drugs again, researchers say. Investigators at UAMS are exploring the use of the drug isradipine, commonly prescribed for high blood pressure to reduce the risk of stroke or heart attack. The drug will be administered as part of an eight-week clinical trial to determine if it can decrease the withdrawal symptoms.
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