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Methadone‐naloxone in combination for the treatment of heroin addicts
Author(s) -
Parwatikar Sadashiv D.,
Knowles Raymond R.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt1973146941
Subject(s) - methadone , (+) naloxone , narcotic , heroin , narcotic antagonist , abstinence , medicine , anesthesia , addiction , methadone maintenance , morphine , narcotic antagonists , heroin dependence , pharmacology , antagonist , drug , psychiatry , receptor
A methadone‐naloxone (10:1) combination was compared to methadone alone in the maintenance of heroin addicts. No abnormalities in blood clinical chemistry that could be attributed to the combination treatment were observed. The data indicate fewer nonspecific and narcotic side effects. There was a suggestion of some narcotic antagonist effects, but this did not achieve statistical significance. This double‐blind study showed the oral efficacy and safety of a methadone‐naloxone combination (in 30 subjects), which is known to induce abstinence in narcotic addicts if injected parenterally. Hopefully, such a mixture can prevent the diversion of methadone for parenteral abuse.