Summary
With the goal of evaluation of the effect of Riluzole in the treatment of methamphetamine dependency, 40 patients are investigated in the present study. All patients only have Methamphetamine consumption in their recent addiction history. 20 patients are treated with placebo and non-medication (psychological) interventions and the other 20 individuals, in addition to non-medication (psychological) interventions, consume Riluzole. The duration of therapy is 3 months and the dosage of Riluzole is twice per day. In both groups, in spite of drug intervention and visit by physicians, patients refer to the center twice a week and take part in personal behavioral psychocognitive meetings with the modified matrix method. Matrix therapy is a non-medication (psychological) therapy method that based on the planned sessions issues like individual psychotherapy and family counseling is covered. In this study, patients take part in matrix meetings twice a week. The study is a clinical trial and a human sampling method that will be conducted at university addiction’s therapy center in the city of Yazd. In this study, patients with methamphetamine dependency will be randomly divided in two groups of oral Raluzole or placebo according to diagnostic DSM-IV-TR criteria. This is a double blind study in which except information committee personnel (analysts) all other groups including patients, therapists, and also researchers do not know anything about the quality of patients’ layout in different groups. Consequences are based on adherence to therapeutic regimen including: Percentage of physician visit and counseling that patient participate to all planned sessions, ratio of negative urinary sample results for Methamphetamine, Morphine, Cannabis and benzodiazepines that take place twice a week, addiction severity measured by addiction severity index (ASI), level of Methamphetamine withdrawal, and depression measured by Hamilton depression 17-items questionnaire (Hamilton Depression rating Scale). Inclusion criteria: Dependence to Methamphetamine according to DSM-IV criteria, consent and commitment for treatment cooperation, age above 18 and under 65. Exclusion criteria: Past history of sensitivity to Riluzole , past history of structural or functional liver disease or abnormal liver function tests (Ast, Alt) , 5-fold increase in liver enzymes test (Ast,Alt) or jaundice. Inclusion and exclusion criteria are evaluated based on the following methods: 1. Examination by the physician of the center. 2. Interview by the clinical psychiatrist of the center. 3. Performing required clinical laboratory tests and electrocardiography.