This systematic review summarises evidence of the effectiveness of naltrexone (NTX) and the added value of psychosocial treatment in the maintenance treatment of opioid and alcohol dependence. Studies were selected through a literature search conducted in March 2004. Seven opioid and seventeen alcohol studies were identified. When possible, meta-(regression) analyses were performed. There is la...

QUESTION One of my patients is currently using methadone for maintenance of opioid dependence. She wants to breastfeed. Is breastfeeding safe for her infant? ANSWER The exposure of infants to methadone through their mothers' breast milk is minimal. Women using methadone for treatment of opioid dependence should not be discouraged from breastfeeding. The benefits of breastfeeding largely outwe...

Combined use of an opioid with a psychostimulant is popular among drug abusers. Such “polydrug use” may increase drug effects or attenuate adverse effects of either drug alone. We proposed that a combination of methamphetamine (meth) and morphine may change physical opioid withdrawal symptoms. Adult male rats were chronically injected with cumulative subcutaneous (s.c.) doses of morphine, meth ...

A. The endogenous opioid system and natural reinforcement 1383 B. The endogenous opioid system and drugs of abuse 1387 C. Perspectives: extending studies to animal models of drug addiction 1393 IV. Genetic Manipulation of the Opioid System, Reinforcement, and Drug Dependence 1393 A. Opioid receptor knockout mice 1393 B. Opioid peptide knockout mice 1394 C. Conclusion 1395 D. Perspectives: towar...

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Naltrexone implants are used to treat opioid dependence, but their safety and efficacy remain poorly understood. We systematically reviewed the literature to assess the safety and efficacy of naltrexone implants for treating opioid dependence. DESIGN AND METHODS Studies were eligible if they compared naltrexone implants with another intervention or placebo. Examined outc...

Physical dependence on morphine is evidenced by the withdrawal syndromes, including body weight loss, which are induced by the discontinuation of morphine exposure or by the treatment with naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist. The present study was designed to examine whether the elevation of serum corticosterone (SCS) level induced by naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal was a useful i...

In years past, the prevailing approach to providing pain control was focused on identifying underlying etiologies or pathologic syndromes, e.g., low back pain, trigeminal neuralgia, and cancer pain, that produce the pain. While treating the presumed source of the pain, attempts to improve the accompanying discomfort relied largely on the use of non-opioid medications and the limited use of opio...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES A substance dependent person in the family affects almost all aspects of family life. This leads to problems, difficulties or adverse events which impact the lives of family members and causes enormous burden on family caregivers. The present study aimed to assess the pattern of burden borne by the family caregivers of men with alcohol and opioid dependence. METHODS A ...

AIMS To assess the incidence or prevalence of opioid dependence syndrome in adults (with and without previous history of substance abuse) following treatment with opioid analgesics for pain relief. METHODS Medline, Embase, CINHAL and the Cochrane Library were searched up to January 2011. Systematic reviews and primary studies were included if they reported data about incidence or prevalence o...