Comparison of the Effects of Passiflora Incarnata and Piroxicam in opioids withdrawal-Induced Myalgia and Anxiety: A randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: Non-steroidal analgesics are the most commonly used analgesics for pain relief in opioids induced withdrawal. One of the herbal remedies that reduce muscle pain, anxiety, and fatigue is Passiflora Incarnata (P.incarnata). In this study, we compared Piroxicam and P. incarnata in withdrawal-induced myalgia and anxiety. Materials and Method: This was a clinical trial carried out on 43 candidate patients for maintenance treatment with methadone. The individuals were randomly divided into two groups. The control group was prescribed piroxicam capsule (10 mg every 12 hours), while the intervention group received drops of P. incarnata (10-15 drops three times a day), until symptoms of withdrawal were resolved (7 to 10 days). In the first, 3rd, sixth, and ninth days of treatment, the patient’s vital signs, myalgia (visual acuity), and anxiety (Beck test) were recorded and analyzed. Results: The results of this study revealed that the flower drops resulted in a reduction in myalgia (mean score of 5.4± 0.79 on the first day decreased to 1. 3 ±0.5 on the ninth day), but there was no significant difference in comparison with Piroxicam (p=0.705). Further, P. incarnata significantly reduced the anxiety caused by withdrawal (p =0.001). Conclusion: P. incarnata drop can be used to reduce the pain and anxiety caused by the drug’s withdrawal.