OBJECTIVE Studies have suggested that the N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist dextromethorphan may be useful in the treatment of opioid dependence. DESIGN This double-blinded, placebo-controlled inpatient study evaluated the effects of 0, 30, and 60 mg of dextromethorphan and quinidine (DMQ) on the reinforcing and subjective effects of heroin in recently detoxified heroin abusers. PARTICIPANTS ...

BACKGROUND Personality traits may form a part of the aetiology of opioid dependence. For instance, opioid dependence may result from self-medication in emotionally unstable individuals, or from experimenting with drugs in sensation seekers. The five factor model (FFM) has obtained a central position in contemporary personality trait theory. The five factors are: Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openn...

BACKGROUND Addiction to opioids, or opioid dependence, encompasses the biopsychosocial dysfunction seen in illicit heroin injectors, as well as aberrant behaviours in patients prescribed opioids for chronic nonmalignant pain. OBJECTIVE To outline the management of opioid dependence using opioid pharmacotherapy as part of a comprehensive chronic illness management strategy. DISCUSSION The sa...

BACKGROUND Methadone is a synthetic opiate mu receptor agonist that is widely used to substitute for illicit opiates in the management of opiate dependence. It helps prevent opiate users from injecting and sharing needles which are vehicles for the spread of HIV and other blood borne viruses. This study has the objective of determining the utility of daily methadone dose to predict retention ra...

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 ...

BACKGROUND Buprenorphine is an effective treatment for opioid dependence that can be provided in a primary care setting. Offering this treatment may also facilitate the identification and treatment of other chronic medical conditions. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 168 patients who presented to a primary care clinic for treatment of opioid dependence and who receiv...

Mu opioid receptor (OPRM1) gene variants, particularly the common A118G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), are among the most frequently studied candidate genes associated with opioid dependence. However, despite numerous case-control studies and meta-analyses, no definitive conclusion has been reached regarding the association of the A118G SNP and risk of developing opioid dependence. This ...

The brainstem auditory evoked responses were studied in 19 opioid dependent subjects and 20 normal healthy volunteers. The absolute latencies of wave III, V and the interpeak latencies I-III, III-V and I-V were significantly prolonged in the experimental group. Implications are discussed.

In addition to buprenorphine monotherapy tablets, film and tablets combining 4 parts buprenorphine and 1 part naloxone (a mu opioid antagonist) are also being used in maintenance treatment for opioid dependence (Chiang and Hawks, 2003). (The original manufacturer of the combination tablets stopped supplying them but generic versions and new brand, Zubsolv®*, are now available.) In fact, the bup...

Constant refinement of opioid dependence (OD) therapies is a condition to promote treatment access and delivery. Among other applications, the partial opioid agonist buprenorphine has been studied to improve evidence-based interventions for the transfer of patients from opioid agonist to antagonist medications. This paper summarizes PubMed-searched clinical investigations and conference papers ...