Chronic morphine administration induces adaptations in neurons resulting in opioid tolerance and dependence. Functional studies have implicated a role for the periaqueductal gray area (PAG) in the expression of many signs of opioid withdrawal, but the cellular mechanisms are not fully understood. This study describes an increased efficacy, rather than tolerance, of opioid agonists at mu-recepto...

Medical practitioners in South Africa are increasingly confronted with requests to treat patients with opioid use disorders. Many do not possess the required knowledge and skills to deal with these patients effectively. This overview of the medical treatment of opioid dependence was compiled by an elected working group of doctors working in the field of substance dependence. Recommendations are...

Ultra-low-dose opioid antagonists, when combined with opiates, increase the analgesic efficacy and duration of analgesia of the opiate. This enhanced and prolonged analgesia was recently demonstrated in a 350-patient Phase II clinical trial of Oxytrex, a novel drug candidate that combines oxycodone with an ultra-low dose of the opioid antagonist naltrexone. Extensive preclinical data also show ...

The profile of opioid dependence in the United States is changing. Abuse of prescription opioids is more common than that of illicit opioids: Recent data indicate that approximately 1.6 million persons abuse or are dependent on prescription opioids, whereas 323,000 abuse or are dependent on heroin. Despite this prevalence, nearly 80% of opioid-dependent persons remain untreated. One option for ...