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1.
Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse ; 49(2): 249-259, 2023 03 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36881813

ABSTRACT

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatments, including medications, are increasingly offered via telehealth.Objective: This study characterizes 90-day treatment retention and changes in objectively measured blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in a large cohort receiving AUD telehealth.Methods: Patients received AUD treatment through Ria, a virtual (telehealth) program offering AUD treatment that is tailored to patient goals (e.g. abstinence or controlled drinking). Patients were encouraged to complete breathalyzer readings twice daily for measurement-based care. We characterized rates of 90-day treatment retention (i.e. completing a BAC reading or medical/coaching encounter on the 90th day or later) and used growth curve analyses to model changes in daily estimated peak BAC over 90 days.Results: Of 4121 patients (51.5% women), 50.1% had 90-day treatment retention (n = 2066, 52.2% women). Most patients received prescriptions for AUD medications (84.6%) and completed encounters with medical providers (86.7%) and coaches (86.1%). Patients with 90-day retention provided 184,817 BAC readings in the first 90 days. Growth curve analyses revealed significant reductions in daily estimated peak BAC (p < .001) from a mean of 0.092 (day 1) to 0.038 (day 90). Similar magnitudes of BAC reduction were observed for men and women and for patients with abstinence and controlled drinking goals.Conclusion: Telehealth appears to be a viable approach to delivering AUD treatments in a manner that promotes drinking reductions. Telehealth approaches can yield reductions in objectively measured BAC, including for some patient subgroups that have historically faced greater stigma in AUD treatment settings, such as women and people with non-abstinence drinking goals.


Subject(s)
Alcoholism , Telemedicine , Male , Humans , Female , Alcoholism/drug therapy , Blood Alcohol Content , Alcohol Drinking
2.
J Psychoactive Drugs ; 51(2): 108-117, 2019.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30967099

ABSTRACT

Entactogens such as 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "molly", "ecstasy") appear to have unusual, potentially therapeutic, emotional effects. Understanding their mechanisms can benefit from clinical experiments with related drugs. Yet the first known drug with such properties, 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), remains poorly studied and its pharmacokinetics in humans are unknown. We conducted a within-subjects, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 1.4 mg/kg oral racemic MDA and compared results to those from our prior similar studies with 1.5 mg/kg oral racemic MDMA. MDA was well-tolerated by participants. MDA induced robust increases in heart rate and blood pressure and increased cortisol and prolactin to a similar degree as MDMA. MDA self-report effects shared features with MDMA as well as with classical psychedelics. MDA self-report effects lasted longer than those of MDMA, with MDA effects remaining elevated at 8 h while MDMA effects resolved by 6 h. Cmax and AUC0-∞ for MDA were 229 ± 39 (mean ± SD) and 3636 ± 958 µg/L for MDA and 92 ± 61 and 1544 ± 741 µg/L for the metabolite 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyamphetamine (HMA). There was considerable between-subject variation in MDA/HMA ratios. The similarity of MDA and MDMA pharmacokinetics suggests that the greater duration of MDA effects is due to pharmacodynamics rather than pharmacokinetics.


Subject(s)
3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine/administration & dosage , Hallucinogens/administration & dosage , 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine/pharmacokinetics , 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine/pharmacology , Adult , Area Under Curve , Cross-Over Studies , Double-Blind Method , Female , Hallucinogens/pharmacokinetics , Hallucinogens/pharmacology , Humans , Male , N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine/pharmacokinetics , N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine/pharmacology , Young Adult
3.
Adv Pharmacol Sci ; 2016: 2175896, 2016.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27403159

ABSTRACT

Hyponatremia is a serious complication of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) use. We investigated potential mechanisms in two double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. In Study 1, healthy drug-experienced volunteers received MDMA or placebo alone and in combination with the alpha-1 adrenergic inverse agonist prazosin, used as a positive control to release antidiuretic hormone (ADH). In Study 2, volunteers received MDMA or placebo followed by standardized water intake. MDMA lowered serum sodium but did not increase ADH or copeptin, although the control prazosin did increase ADH. Water loading reduced serum sodium more after MDMA than after placebo. There was a trend for women to have lower baseline serum sodium than men, but there were no significant interactions with drug condition. Combining studies, MDMA potentiated the ability of water to lower serum sodium. Thus, hyponatremia appears to be a significant risk when hypotonic fluids are consumed during MDMA use. Clinical trials and events where MDMA use is common should anticipate and mitigate this risk.

4.
J Psychopharmacol ; 30(4): 378-87, 2016 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26880224

ABSTRACT

The drug 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy", "molly") is a widely used illicit drug and experimental adjunct to psychotherapy. MDMA has unusual, poorly understood socioemotional effects, including feelings of interpersonal closeness and sociability. To better understand these effects, we conducted a small (n=12) within-subjects double-blind placebo controlled study of the effects of 1.5 mg/kg oral MDMA on social emotions and autobiographical disclosure in a controlled setting. MDMA displayed both sedative- and stimulant-like effects, including increased self-report anxiety. At the same time, MDMA positively altered evaluation of the self (i.e. increasing feelings of authenticity) while decreasing concerns about negative evaluation by others (i.e. decreasing social anxiety). Consistent with these feelings, MDMA increased how comfortable participants felt describing emotional memories. Overall, MDMA produced a prosocial syndrome that seemed to facilitate emotional disclosure and that appears consistent with the suggestion that it represents a novel pharmacological class.


Subject(s)
Emotions/drug effects , Hallucinogens/pharmacology , N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine/pharmacology , Adult , Disclosure , Double-Blind Method , Empathy/drug effects , Female , Healthy Volunteers , Humans , Interpersonal Relations , Male , Social Behavior
5.
J Addict Med ; 9(2): 130-5, 2015.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25622123

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Methamphetamine (MA) addiction has no known effective pharmacotherapy. Small trials showed beneficial effects for oral naltrexone in amphetamine users. Trials in alcohol-dependent subjects showed better response in persons with the A118G single nucleotide polymorphism of the µ-opioid receptor. We conducted a pharmacogenetic trial of sustained release intramuscular naltrexone to examine the role of the A118G single nucleotide polymorphism in MA dependence. METHOD: All eligible A118G subjects screened were enrolled; an equal number of wild type (A118A) subjects were selected using modified urn randomization, balanced on sex and frequency of recent MA use. Enrolled subjects received a single 380 mg naltrexone injection and weekly psychotherapy for 4 weeks. Self-report of MA use and urine toxicology for MA was assessed twice weekly. Urine samples with less than 1000 ng/mL of MA were considered negative. RESULTS: Eleven A118G and 11 A118A subjects were enrolled. There were no significant differences between the groups in days of abstinence from MA use (11.5 vs 14.8, respectively, P = 0.51), the number of MA-negative urine samples (1.7 vs 1.8, respectively, P = 0.97), consecutive MA-negative urine samples (1.0 vs 1.5, respectively, P = 0.91), or the number of MA-negative urine samples before first relapse (0.9 vs 1.5, respectively, P = 0.86). CONCLUSIONS: Although A118G polymorphism has been shown to be associated with improved treatment response to naltrexone among alcoholics, whether this polymorphism impacts naltrexone treatment response among MA users is unclear at this time.


Subject(s)
Amphetamine-Related Disorders/drug therapy , Methamphetamine/adverse effects , Naltrexone/therapeutic use , Receptors, Opioid, mu/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Amphetamine-Related Disorders/genetics , Amphetamine-Related Disorders/urine , Delayed-Action Preparations/administration & dosage , Delayed-Action Preparations/therapeutic use , Female , Humans , Male , Methamphetamine/urine , Middle Aged , Naltrexone/administration & dosage , Narcotic Antagonists/administration & dosage , Narcotic Antagonists/therapeutic use , Pilot Projects , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics , Young Adult
6.
Psychopharmacology (Berl) ; 231(19): 3899-905, 2014 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24633447

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE: Several laboratories have conducted placebo-controlled drug challenge studies with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), providing a unique source of data to examine the reliability of the acute effects of the drug across subject samples and settings. We examined the subjective and physiological responses to the drug across three different laboratories and investigated the influence of prior MDMA use. METHODS: Overall, 220 healthy volunteers with varying levels of previous MDMA experience participated in laboratory-based studies in which they received placebo or MDMA orally (1.5 mg/kg or 125-mg fixed dose) under double-blind conditions. Cardiovascular and subjective effects were assessed before and repeatedly after drug administration. The studies were conducted independently by investigators in Basel, San Francisco, and Chicago. RESULTS: Despite methodological differences between the studies and differences in the subjects' drug use histories, MDMA produced very similar cardiovascular and subjective effects across the sites. The participants' prior use of MDMA was inversely related to feeling "Any Drug Effect" only at sites testing more experienced users. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that the pharmacological effects of MDMA are robust and highly reproducible across settings. There was also modest evidence for tolerance to the effects of MDMA in regular users.


Subject(s)
Blood Pressure/drug effects , Heart Rate/drug effects , N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine/administration & dosage , Adult , Blood Pressure/physiology , Double-Blind Method , Female , Heart Rate/physiology , Humans , Male , Reproducibility of Results , Young Adult
8.
J Addict Med ; 5(3): 170-4, 2011 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21844832

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Medication nonadherence is an important factor in clinical practice and research methodology. Although many methods of measuring adherence have been investigated, there is as yet no "gold standard." We compared the usefulness and accuracy of a novel measure of adherence, photographs taken by cellular telephones with 2 incumbents: capsule count and the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS). METHOD: Twenty subjects participated in a clinical trial of the efficacy of modafinil for the treatment of methamphetamine dependence. Subjects were issued cell phones and medication in MEMS Cap equipped bottles and were instructed to take 1 capsule a day for 8 weeks, recording adherence with both systems. Pill counts were recorded at weekly inpatient visits. Subjects were paid for participation and for each capsule photograph and the returned medication bottle with MEMS Cap. RESULTS: Capsule count-indicated adherence (proportion of prescribed medication taken) was 94.9%. When compared with capsule count, the novel method was found to underestimate adherence, whereas MEMS overestimated adherence. By using the dosing time data collected, we determined that subjects who dosed at a consistent time daily were more likely to adhere to the prescribed regimen. We also detected discrepancies in the timestamps recorded by MEMS. CONCLUSIONS: Capsule photographs are a useful measure of adherence, allowing more accurate time measures and more frequent adherence assessment than MEMS or capsule count. Given the ubiquity of cellular telephone use, and the relative ease of this adherence measurement method, we believe it is a useful and cost-effective approach.


Subject(s)
Cell Phone , Medication Adherence/statistics & numerical data , Photography/instrumentation , Adult , Amphetamine-Related Disorders/drug therapy , Benzhydryl Compounds/therapeutic use , Female , Humans , Male , Modafinil , Neuroprotective Agents/therapeutic use , Reproducibility of Results
9.
Psychopharmacology (Berl) ; 214(4): 933-9, 2011 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21140258

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE: Salvinorin A (SA) is a highly selective kappa opioid receptor agonist and the putative psychoactive compound in Salvia divinorum (SD), an increasingly abused hallucinogenic plant. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to characterize the physiological and subjective effects of SA versus placebo and measure drug and metabolite levels. METHODS: Sublingual SA doses up to 4 mg were administered in dimethyl sulfoxide/polyethylene glycol 400 solution to eight SD-experienced subjects using a placebo-controlled ascending-dose design. RESULTS: No dose of SA produced significantly greater physiological or subjective effects than placebo. Furthermore, effects did not resemble reported "typical" effects of smoked SD. SA was detectable in plasma and urine, but was, in most cases, below the reliable limit of quantification (0.5 ng/mL). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the sublingual bioavailability of SA is low. Higher doses, alternate formulations, or alternate routes of administration will be necessary to study the effects of SA in humans.


Subject(s)
Diterpenes, Clerodane/pharmacology , Hallucinogens/pharmacology , Receptors, Opioid, kappa/metabolism , Salvia/chemistry , Administration, Sublingual , Adult , Biological Availability , Diterpenes, Clerodane/administration & dosage , Diterpenes, Clerodane/isolation & purification , Diterpenes, Clerodane/pharmacokinetics , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Hallucinogens/administration & dosage , Hallucinogens/isolation & purification , Hallucinogens/pharmacokinetics , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young Adult
10.
PLoS One ; 5(12): e14074, 2010 Dec 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21152030

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms of drug-induced visions are poorly understood. Very few serotonergic hallucinogens have been studied in humans in decades, despite widespread use of these drugs and potential relevance of their mechanisms to hallucinations occurring in psychiatric and neurological disorders. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We investigated the mechanisms of hallucinogen-induced visions by measuring the visual and perceptual effects of the hallucinogenic serotonin 5-HT2AR receptor agonist and monoamine releaser, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), in a double-blind placebo-controlled study. We found that MDA increased self-report measures of mystical-type experience and other hallucinogen-like effects, including reported visual alterations. MDA produced a significant increase in closed-eye visions (CEVs), with considerable individual variation. Magnitude of CEVs after MDA was associated with lower performance on measures of contour integration and object recognition. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Drug-induced visions may have greater intensity in people with poor sensory or perceptual processing, suggesting common mechanisms with other hallucinatory syndromes. MDA is a potential tool to investigate mystical experiences and visual perception. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00823407.


Subject(s)
3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine/pharmacology , Hallucinations/psychology , Hallucinogens/pharmacology , Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists/pharmacology , Vision, Ocular/drug effects , Adult , Amines/chemistry , Cross-Over Studies , Humans , Male , Placebos , Surveys and Questionnaires , Visual Perception
11.
Am J Addict ; 19(6): 510-4, 2010.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20958846

ABSTRACT

Craving for addictive drugs may predict relapse in abstinent addicts. To assess relationships between craving and use, we examined changes in craving for methamphetamine (MA) in a sample of 865 outpatients in a multisite 16-week MA-treatment study. Craving was assessed on a 0-100 scale, and MA use was assessed by self-report and confirmed by urinalysis. We hypothesized that the magnitude of craving would decline (decay) with increased time of abstinence, and that decay would be greater for more frequent MA users, and greater for intravenous (IV) users and smokers as compared to those who used MA intranasally. Craving declined significantly as the number of weeks of consecutive abstinence increased. Rate of decay was greater for IV users and smokers as compared to both intranasal users and oral users, but not for more frequent users of MA. Rate of decay was independent of age, gender, and race/ethnicity. The trajectory to 0 (no) craving was 1 week shorter for females than males because females had significantly lower pretreatment craving scores compared to males. This study confirms that the sooner MA-dependent people are able to quit using and the longer that they are able to stay abstinent, the more likely it is that their craving for MA will decrease over time.


Subject(s)
Amphetamine-Related Disorders/psychology , Behavior, Addictive/psychology , Methamphetamine/adverse effects , Adult , Age Factors , Amphetamine-Related Disorders/urine , Drug Administration Routes , Female , Humans , Male , Methamphetamine/administration & dosage , Methamphetamine/urine , Racial Groups/psychology , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Self Report , Sex Characteristics , Time Factors
12.
BMC Clin Pharmacol ; 9: 13, 2009 Aug 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19646280

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The selective MAO-B inhibitor selegiline has been evaluated in clinical trials as a potential medication for the treatment of cocaine dependence. This study evaluated the safety of and pharmacologic interactions between 7 days of transdermal selegiline dosed with patches (Selegiline Transdermal System, STS) that deliver 6 mg/24 hours and 2.5 mg/kg of cocaine administered over 4 hours. METHODS: Twelve nondependent cocaine-experienced subjects received deuterium-labeled cocaine-d5 intravenously (IV) 0.5 mg/kg over 10 minutes followed by 2 mg/kg over 4 hours before and after one week of transdermal selegiline 6 mg/24 hours. Plasma and urine were collected for analysis of selegiline, cocaine, catecholamine and metabolite concentrations. Pharmacodynamic measures were obtained. RESULTS: Selegiline did not change cocaine pharmacokinetic parameters. Selegiline administration increased phenylethylamine (PEA) urinary excretion and decreased urinary MHPG-sulfate concentration after cocaine when compared to cocaine alone. No serious adverse effects occurred with the combination of selegiline and cocaine, and cocaine-induced physiological effects were unchanged after selegiline. Only 1 peak subjective cocaine effects rating changed, and only a few subjective ratings decreased across time after selegiline. CONCLUSION: No pharmacological interaction occurred between selegiline and a substantial dose of intravenous cocaine, suggesting the combination will be safe in pharmacotherapy trials. Selegiline produced few changes in subjective response to the cocaine challenge perhaps because of some psychoactive neurotransmitters changing in opposite directions.


Subject(s)
Cocaine/pharmacology , Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors/pharmacology , Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Selegiline/pharmacology , Administration, Cutaneous , Adult , Affect/drug effects , Amphetamine/metabolism , Amphetamines/metabolism , Analysis of Variance , Cocaine/administration & dosage , Cocaine/analogs & derivatives , Cocaine/metabolism , Cocaine/pharmacokinetics , Cocaine/toxicity , Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors/pharmacokinetics , Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors/toxicity , Drug Interactions/physiology , Female , Homovanillic Acid/blood , Homovanillic Acid/metabolism , Humans , Infusions, Intravenous , Male , Methamphetamine/metabolism , Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol/analogs & derivatives , Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol/metabolism , Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol/urine , Monitoring, Physiologic , Monoamine Oxidase/metabolism , Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors/administration & dosage , Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors/pharmacokinetics , Phenethylamines/metabolism , Phenethylamines/urine , Prolactin/blood , Prolactin/metabolism , Selegiline/administration & dosage , Selegiline/pharmacokinetics , Statistics, Nonparametric , Substance Withdrawal Syndrome/psychology , Young Adult
13.
BMC Clin Pharmacol ; 8: 4, 2008 Jul 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18644153

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We studied the pharmacology of l-methamphetamine, the less abused isomer, when used as a nasal decongestant. METHODS: 12 subjects self-administered l-methamphetamine from a nonprescription inhaler at the recommended dose (16 inhalations over 6 hours) then at 2 and 4 (32 and 64 inhalations) times this dose. In a separate session intravenous phenylephrine (200 microg) and l-methamphetamine (5 mg) were given to define alpha agonist pharmacology and bioavailability. Physiological, cardiovascular, pharmacokinetic, and subjective effects were measured. RESULTS: Plasma l-methamphetamine levels were often below the level of quantification so bioavailability was estimated by comparing urinary excretion of the intravenous and inhaled doses, yielding delivered dose estimates of 74.0 +/- 56.1, 124.7 +/- 106.6, and 268.1 +/- 220.5 microg for ascending exposures (mean 4.2 +/- 3.3 microg/inhalation). Physiological changes were minimal and not dose-dependent. Small decreases in stroke volume and cardiac output suggesting mild cardiodepression were seen. CONCLUSION: Inhaled l-methamphetamine delivered from a non-prescription product produced minimal effects but may be a cardiodepressant.


Subject(s)
Methamphetamine/pharmacology , Administration, Intranasal , Adult , Biological Availability , Blood Pressure/drug effects , Body Temperature/drug effects , Echocardiography , Heart Rate/drug effects , Humans , Methamphetamine/administration & dosage , Methamphetamine/blood , Methamphetamine/pharmacokinetics , Methamphetamine/urine , Middle Aged , Pain Measurement
14.
Nitric Oxide ; 17(2): 55-9, 2007 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17625935

ABSTRACT

Nitric oxide (NO) is generated from l-arginine by NO synthases, of which three forms have been identified: endothelial, inducible and neuronal (eNOS, iNOS and nNOS, respectively). The l-arginine metabolite asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is a potent, noncompetitive inhibitor of nNOS, while its congener N(G)-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA) is a less potent, competitive inhibitor. In rat neurons large amounts of ADMA are found, suggesting its importance in modulating neuronal activity. Humans generate approximately 300mumol ( approximately 60mg) ADMA per day. It is released from myelin basic proteins that are highly expressed in neuronal tissue. ADMA is mainly degraded by the action of the enzyme dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH), which exists in two isoforms. DDAH1 is highly expressed in brain, suggesting specific function in this area. The presence of nNOS and DDAH1 in brain suggests that ADMA may have specific CNS activity and be more than an unregulated metabolite. Increased NO production-either prior to or concurrently with opioid administration-results in an enhanced rate and extent of development of tolerance to morphine in mice. NO produces an alteration in the mu-opioid receptor that increases constitutive receptor activity. It thereby reduces the ability of a selective mu-opioid agonist to activate the mu-opioid receptor; these in vitro molecular effects occur in a time course consistent with the in vivo development of antinociceptive tolerance in mice. Amongst many other synthetic NOS inhibitors of varying specificity, 7-nitroindazole (7-NI) has been shown to have a high affinity (IC(50) 0.71 microM) to nNOS. Selective blockade of nNOS by 7-NI attenuated morphine withdrawal in opiate dependent rats, suggesting nNOS as a viable target for development of pharmacotherapies. We hypothesize that, by inhibiting nNOS and reducing NO levels, ADMA may decrease mu-opiate receptor constitutive activity, resulting in alteration of the analgesic dose-response curve of morphine.


Subject(s)
Analgesics, Opioid/therapeutic use , Arginine/analogs & derivatives , Pain/drug therapy , Analgesics, Opioid/adverse effects , Arginine/pharmacology , Arginine/therapeutic use , Drug Tolerance , Humans , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I/antagonists & inhibitors , Opioid-Related Disorders
15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15913869

ABSTRACT

Decreasing response to stress has been one goal of interventions aimed at reducing relapse to substances of abuse. A laboratory stress test that can be repeated would be helpful in testing the efficacy of interventions in decreasing the response to stress before more extensive trials are begun. The effects of two types of psychological stress tests, the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and a stress imagery test, on psychological, physiological, and hormonal responses (salivary cortisol and DHEA) were examined when each test was given twice to cocaine- or methamphetamine-dependent human subjects, 24 of whom completed at least one session. The stress imagery test produced significant changes in several of the subjective response measures in both first and second sessions, including several measures of negative affect and a craving measure. The TSST produced significant changes only in the second session. The stress imagery protocol showed better replicability across two sessions. Cocaine users and methamphetamine users did not respond similarly in their craving responses. Reported craving for methamphetamine after stress testing showed decreases or much smaller increases compared to that for cocaine. Neither stress test significantly increased salivary cortisol or DHEA, and changes in hormone concentrations were not related to subjective responses. These results suggest that stress imagery testing procedures may be useful as provocative tests of stress-induced affect and stimulant drug craving. Although less convincing because of the heterogeneity of the subjects, they also suggest that HPA axis responsivity is not clearly linked to acute stress-induced stimulant craving or affective response.


Subject(s)
Central Nervous System Stimulants , Stress, Psychological/diagnosis , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Substance-Related Disorders/psychology , Affect/drug effects , Aged , Amphetamine-Related Disorders/psychology , Blood Pressure/drug effects , Blood Pressure/physiology , Cocaine-Related Disorders/psychology , Dehydroepiandrosterone/metabolism , Female , Humans , Hydrocortisone/metabolism , Imagination , Male , Methamphetamine , Middle Aged , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Saliva/metabolism , Smoking/psychology , Social Environment
16.
Clin Pharmacokinet ; 43(5): 329-40, 2004.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15080765

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Buprenorphine and buprenorphine/naloxone combinations are effective pharmacotherapies for opioid dependence, but doses are considerably greater than analgesic doses. Because dose-related buprenorphine opioid agonist effects may plateau at higher doses, we evaluated the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of expected therapeutic doses. DESIGN: The first experiment examined a range of sublingual buprenorphine solution doses with an ascending dose design (n = 12). The second experiment examined a range of doses of sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone tablets along with one dose of buprenorphine alone tablets with a balanced crossover design (n = 8). PARTICIPANTS: Twenty nondependent, opioid-experienced volunteers. METHODS: Subjects in the solution experiment received sublingual buprenorphine solution in single ascending doses of 4, 8, 16 and 32 mg. Subjects in the tablet experiment received sublingual tablets combining buprenorphine 4, 8 and 16 mg with naloxone at a 4 : 1 ratio or buprenorphine 16 mg alone, given as single doses. Plasma buprenorphine, norbuprenorphine and naloxone concentrations and pharmacodynamic effects were measured for 48-72 hours after administration. RESULTS: Buprenorphine concentrations increased with dose, but not proportionally. Dose-adjusted areas under the concentration-time curve for buprenorphine 32 mg solution, buprenorphine 1 6 mg tablet and buprenorphine/naloxone 16/4 mg tablet were only 54 +/- 16%, 70 +/- 25% and 72 +/- 17%, respectively, of that of the 4 mg dose of sublingual solution or tablet. No differences were found between dose strengths for most subjective and physiological effects. Pupil constriction at 48 hours after administration of solution did, however, increase with dose. Subjects reported greater intoxication with the 32 mg solution dose, even though acceptability of the 4 mg dose was greatest. Naloxone did not change the bioavailability or effects of the buprenorphine 16 mg tablet. CONCLUSION: Less than dose-proportional increases in plasma buprenorphine concentrations may contribute to the observed plateau for most pharmacodynamic effects as the dose is increased.


Subject(s)
Analgesics, Opioid/administration & dosage , Analgesics, Opioid/pharmacology , Buprenorphine/administration & dosage , Buprenorphine/pharmacokinetics , Naloxone/pharmacology , Narcotic Antagonists/pharmacology , Administration, Sublingual , Adult , Analgesics, Opioid/blood , Area Under Curve , Biological Availability , Buprenorphine/blood , Cross-Over Studies , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged
17.
Clin Pharmacol Ther ; 74(5): 475-86, 2003 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-14586388

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patients in harm-reduction treatment programs are switching from intravenous to other routes of methamphetamine (INN, metamfetamine) administration to avoid risks associated with needle use. Relatively little has been reported about the bioavailability of methamphetamine when smoked or used intranasally. METHODS: Eight experienced methamphetamine users were administered smoked or intranasal methamphetamine concurrently with an intravenous dose of deuterium-labeled methamphetamine. Plasma and urine concentrations were measured for calculation of bioavailability and other pharmacokinetic parameters by noncompartmental methods. RESULTS: Methamphetamine was well absorbed after smoking or intranasal administration, with bioavailabilities of 79% after intranasal administration and 67% of the estimated delivered dose or 37.4% of the absolute (pipe) dose after smoking. Maximum methamphetamine concentrations occurred at 2.7 and 2.5 hours after intranasal and smoked doses. The elimination half-life was similar for intravenous (11.4 hours), intranasal (10.7 hours), and smoked (10.7 hours) methamphetamine. Clearance (272 mL x h(-1) x kg(-1)), steady-state volume of distribution (4.2 L/kg), and mean residence time (16 hours) of the intravenous dose were similar to previously reported values. Dextroamphetamine (INN, dexamfetamine) half-life (all routes) was 16.2 hours. Methamphetamine and dextroamphetamine renal clearances (all routes) were about 100 and 1100 mL x h(-1) x kg(-1), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intranasal and smoked methamphetamine are well absorbed. Although intranasal or smoked routes may decrease the risk of transmission of blood-borne diseases, exposure to methamphetamine and the possibility of drug-related complications remain substantial.


Subject(s)
Central Nervous System Stimulants/administration & dosage , Central Nervous System Stimulants/pharmacokinetics , Methamphetamine/administration & dosage , Methamphetamine/pharmacokinetics , Administration, Inhalation , Administration, Intranasal , Adult , Area Under Curve , Biological Availability , Blood Pressure/drug effects , Central Nervous System Stimulants/adverse effects , Dextroamphetamine/administration & dosage , Dextroamphetamine/pharmacokinetics , Euphoria/drug effects , Half-Life , Heart Rate/drug effects , Humans , Infusions, Intravenous , Isotope Labeling , Male , Methamphetamine/adverse effects , Middle Aged , Smoke
18.
Neuropsychopharmacology ; 28(9): 1677-84, 2003 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12813474

ABSTRACT

Preclinical studies have linked corticosteroid secretion and levels with drug self-administration by animals. In a double-blind, cross-over study, subjective, physiological, and endocrine responses to intravenous doses of methamphetamine 0.5 mg/kg or placebo were assessed in eight methamphetamine-experienced subjects after three cortisol-modifying premedication conditions: augmenting cortisol level with oral hydrocortisone 50 mg, blocking cortisol response with the corticosteroid synthesis inhibitor metyrapone 1500 mg orally, or no premedication. Although the pharmacologic manipulations produced the expected hormonal changes, subjective response to the methamphetamine showed few differences. Diminishing cortisol response by pharmacologic blockade did not alter the pleasurable effects of methamphetamine. Hydrocortisone did increase self-reported 'bad drug effect' and decreased craving after saline placebo relative to the period following methamphetamine. Metyrapone was associated with significant premature ventricular complexes in two subjects during methamphetamine administration and may not be safe for those who use methamphetamine.


Subject(s)
Affect/drug effects , Central Nervous System Stimulants/pharmacology , Hydrocortisone/blood , Methamphetamine/pharmacology , Adult , Blood Pressure/drug effects , Central Nervous System Stimulants/administration & dosage , Cross-Over Studies , Dehydroepiandrosterone/blood , Desoxycorticosterone/blood , Double-Blind Method , Enzyme Inhibitors/administration & dosage , Enzyme Inhibitors/urine , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods , Female , Heart Rate/drug effects , Humans , Hydrocortisone/administration & dosage , Hydrocortisone/analogs & derivatives , Hydrocortisone/urine , Male , Methamphetamine/administration & dosage , Metyrapone/administration & dosage , Metyrapone/urine , Respiration/drug effects , Surveys and Questionnaires , Time Factors
19.
Psychopharmacology (Berl) ; 162(4): 396-405, 2002 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12172693

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a widely used phenethylamine. Reports have described the effects of MDMA in a controlled laboratory setting, but the full range of effects of MDMA in humans is still not completely characterized. OBJECTIVES: To describe the physiological, subjective, and hormonal changes after single doses of MDMA in a laboratory setting and examine relationships between these effects. METHODS: Eight MDMA-experienced volunteers each received placebo, 0.5 mg/kg, and 1.5 mg/kg oral doses of MDMA in a double-blind crossover study. RESULTS: The 1.5 mg/kg dose (comparable to that typically used by most participants) produced significant subjective effects, peaking at about 2 h after dosing, including some effects commonly associated with stimulant drugs, hallucinogens, and entactogens. MDMA significantly increased plasma cortisol, prolactin, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels. Increase in plasma cortisol after the 1.5 mg/kg dose correlated with increased heart rate, rate-pressure product, and drug liking. Rise in DHEA correlated with euphoria. CONCLUSIONS: A typically used dose of MDMA produced effects commonly associated with stimulants and hallucinogens. Subjects liked MDMA. Correlations between cortisol and DHEA levels and some physiological and psychological effects are consistent with animal data suggesting that hormones modulate some responses to drugs of abuse.


Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena/drug effects , Hallucinogens/pharmacology , N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine/pharmacology , Adult , Analysis of Variance , Cross-Over Studies , Dehydroepiandrosterone/blood , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Double-Blind Method , Female , Hormones/blood , Humans , Hydrocortisone/blood , Male , Prolactin/blood , Psychometrics , Surveys and Questionnaires , Time Factors
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