Publications by authors named "Belgers M"

Objective: Ibogaine is a hallucinogenic drug that may be used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). The relationships between pharmacokinetics (PKs) of ibogaine and its metabolites and their clinical effects on side effects and opioid withdrawal severity are unknown. We aimed to study these relationships in patients with OUD undergoing detoxification supported by ibogaine.

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Urine has been the preferred matrix for monitoring heroin and methadone adherence due to its large detection window. Drawbacks such as privacy concerns and adulteration however require other matrices. The study aims to determine if oral fluid and exhaled breath are suitable alternatives for heroin and methadone monitoring and to assess the detection time in exhaled breath.

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Background: Symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal like tremors, seizures and delirium are commonly treated with benzodiazepines and vitamins. When complaints are not reacting to this treatment, an alternative diagnosis must be considered. Although hypomagnesemia is present in at least 30 percent of the patients with alcohol dependence, it can provoke and maintain these complaints.

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(1) Background: Current evidence-based treatments for alcohol use disorder (AUD) are moderately effective. Studies testing repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in AUD commonly apply a limited number of rTMS sessions with different rTMS settings, showing inconsistent effects on craving for alcohol. This study tested the efficacy of a robust rTMS protocol on craving and alcohol use.

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Background And Aims: Ibogaine is an indole alkaloid used in rituals of the African Bwiti tribe. It is also used in non-medical settings to treat addiction. However, ibogaine has been linked to several deaths, mainly due to cardiac events called torsades des pointes preceded by QTc prolongation as well as other safety concerns.

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Ibogaine is a naturally occurring substance which has been increasingly used in the lay-scene to reduce craving and relapse in patients with substance use disorders (SUDs). Although human clinical trials on the safety and efficacy of ibogaine are lacking, animal studies do support the efficacy of ibogaine. In this systematic review and meta-analysis (MA), we summarise these animal findings, addressing three questions: (1) does ibogaine reduce addictive behaviour in animal models of SUDs?; (2) what are the toxic effects of ibogaine on motor functioning, cerebellum and heart rhythm?; (3) what are neuropharmacological working mechanisms of ibogaine treatment in animal models of SUDs? MA of 27 studies showed that ibogaine reduced drug self-administration, particularly during the first 24 h after administration.

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