Arch Gen Psychiat
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Catecholamine metabolites excreted by long-term methadone hydrochloride-dependent subjects were studied in a protocol involving a two-study design. After a two-week methadone maintenance period, 15 subjects underwent abrupt methadone withdrawal and 12 subjects, gradual methadone withdrawal. The first study compared levels of catecholamine metabolites excreted during the stable methadone period with those excreted during the abrupt withdrawal period, as well as with those eliminated by healthy nonaddicted controls. ⋯ However, higher levels of metanephreine were excreted during the stable methadone period than those in controls. During withdrawal, levels of metanephrine dropped a statistically significant amount in comparison with levels observed during the stable methadone period. The gradual withdrawal study confirmed these findings.