Medication of l-tetrahydropalmatine significantly ameliorates opiate craving and increases the abstinence rate in heroin users: a pilot study.

Aim: Drug addiction is a chronic brain disease with constant relapse requiring long-term treatment. New pharmacological strategies focus on the development of an effective antirelapse drug. This study examines the effects of levotetrahydropalmatine (l-THP) on reducing heroin craving and increasing the abstinence rate among heroin-dependent patients.