The abstinence syndrome which follows withdrawal of opiates is the prototype of drug withdrawal reaction and is one of the several factors promoting addiction. Although management of this syndrome is but a small part of treatment of an addict, it is nonetheless an important one. Recent studies have shown that a single dose of Clonidine hydrochloi ide (ARKAMIN) relieves signs and symptoms of opi...

introduction: activity of the paragigantocellularis (pgi) nucleus located in the rostral ventrolateral medulla is the mediator of dependence, tolerance and withdrawal syndrome. the most important systems which change their activity during morphine consumption include glutaminergic, opioidergicand purinergic (especially adenosine) receptors in the pgi nucleus. however, it has been shown that the...

BACKGROUND Chronic morphine exposure creates dependence and, upon cessation, withdrawal symptoms. Studies indicate the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor sildenafil may provide centrally mediated benefits against withdrawal, and therefore, this study evaluated morphine withdrawal signs in dependent mice with and without sildenafil treatment. METHOD Dependence was induced by repeated tr...

We have compared the time course of the behavioral manifestations of opiate withdrawal to the in vivo activity of locus coeruleus (LC) neurons and to increases in the levels of G-proteins, adenylate cyclase, and cAMP-dependent protein kinase known to occur in the LC in opiate-dependent animals. Rats were given morphine by daily subcutaneous implantation of morphine pellets for 5 d. On the sixth...

In a previous paper we reported that electroacupuncture (EA) could suppress opioid withdrawal syndrome and increase the appetite, sleep, and body weight in heroin addicts or morphine dependent animals. Considering that opioids were known to inhibit immune function, the present study was designed to observe whether EA could modulate the immune status of morphine dependent and withdrawal mice. We...

Objective(s): This study investigated the role of locus coeruleus (LC) nucleus TRPV1 receptors (TRPV1r) in the expression and development of morphine physical dependence by intra-LC administration of AMG9810 (selective TRPV1r antagonist) in male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: For assessing the development of morphine dependence, AMG9810 (0.0...

Ibogaine, an indole alkaloid, administered intracerebroventricularly 4-16 micrograms, attenuated a naloxone-precipitated withdrawal syndrome in chronic morphine-dependent rats. It appears that ibogaine has a more consistent effect on certain selective withdrawal signs related to the locomotion. This might explain an attenuating effect of ibogaine on some withdrawal signs. However, due to comple...