Brain targeted transcranial administration of diazepam and shortening of sleep latency in healthy human volunteers.

Filed under: Methadone Side Effects

Indian J Pharm Sci. 2011 Sep; 73(5): 497-503
Pathirana W, Gunasekera SM, Constantine GR, Perera S, Perera BM, Kamaladiwela R

Application of medicated oils on scalp had been practiced for centuries in the Ayurvedic system of medicine in diseases associated with the central nervous system. It is possible that the effectiveness of the therapy may be a result of targeted delivery of active compounds to the brain transcranially. Evidence also comes from two previous studies with positive results on brain targeted transcranial delivery of methadone base and diazepam on rat models. Possibility of transcranial drug delivery was investigated in healthy human volunteers using electroencephalography techniques by assessing the ability of transcranially administered diazepam in bringing about ? activity in the electroencephalographic wave patterns and shortening of the sleep latency period. Non polar drug molecules dissolved in a non-aqueous sesame oil based vehicle is a significant feature in the transcranial dosage design. The study was under taken in two phases. In the Phase-I study scalp application of a single dose of 2 mg/3 ml of the oil was employed and in the Phase-II study repeat application of three doses 24 h apart were employed. Sleep latency changes were monitored with Multiple Sleep Latency Tests with 5 naps employing the standard electroencephalography, electroocculography and electromyography electrodes. Sleep onset was identified with the first epoch of any sleep stage non rapid eye movement 1, 2, 3, 4 or rapid eye movement using electroencephalography, electroocculography and electromyography criteria. In both phases of the study there was significant reduction in the sleep latencies. It was much more pronounced in the Phase-II study. None of the subjects however displayed beta activity in the electroencephalography. Sleep latency reduction following scalp application in both the phases are suggestive of transcranial migration of diazepam molecules to the receptor sites of the nerve tissue of the brain eliciting its pharmacological effect of sedation. Transcranial brain targeted dosage design is therefore feasible.
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Paying the price for an incentive: an exploratory study of smokers’ reasons for failing to complete an incentive based smoking cessation scheme.

Filed under: Methadone Side Effects

J Health Serv Res Policy. 2012 Aug 24;
Allan C, Radley A, Williams B

OBJECTIVES: In 2009, one Scottish region launched a smoking cessation programme offering a weekly financial incentive of £12.50 over a 12-week period. However, a significant proportion of registered participants dropped out of the programme, some even failing to collect the financial reward they were owed. We explore reasons for disengagement and failure to re-engage within this group. METHOD: Individuals (n = 14) were interviewed in depth. Transcripts from recorded interviews formed the dataset and were analysed using the “Framework” method. RESULTS: Incentives appeared to introduce a potential change/reversal in the felt contractual relationship between service provider and client: the client was now the provider and being paid to quit. This led to an increased sense of obligation towards the service, and enhanced feelings of failure, guilt and shame post-relapse, and reluctance to continue engagement or re-engagement. Other service factors promoting disengagement included issues of practical delivery through location, timing, administrative burden and incentive preference. CONCLUSION: The future design of incentive-based schemes should be cognisant of the potential impact on the client-professional relationship. Increasing the value of the incentive may overcome clients’ antipathy towards bureaucracy and monitoring, but may simultaneously exacerbate the sense of failure and resultant stigma associated with relapse. It may be more cost-effective to reduce barriers/costs such as inconvenience, lack of privacy, timing and embarrassment of association of attendance at the pharmacy with methadone use. Alternatively, risks may be managed by reframing weekly rewards as three separate month-long stages, increasing a sense of achievement that a particular stage has been achieved before any relapse.
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Buprenorphine/Naloxone and methadone effects on laboratory indices of liver health: A randomized trial.

Filed under: Methadone Side Effects

Drug Alcohol Depend. 2012 Aug 22;
Saxon AJ, Ling W, Hillhouse M, Thomas C, Hasson A, Ang A, Doraimani G, Tasissa G, Lokhnygina Y, Leimberger J, Bruce RD, McCarthy J, Wiest K, McLaughlin P, Bilangi R, Cohen A, Woody G, Jacobs P

BACKGROUND: Buprenorphine/naloxone (BUP) and methadone (MET) are efficacious treatments for opioid dependence, although concerns about a link between BUP and drug-induced hepatitis have been raised. This study compares the effects of BUP and MET on liver health in opioid-dependent participants. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial of 1269 opioid-dependent participants seeking treatment at 8 federally licensed opioid treatment programs and followed for up to 32 weeks between May 2006 and August 2010; 731 participants met “evaluable” criteria defined as completing 24 weeks of medication and providing at least 4 blood samples for transaminase testing. Participants were randomly assigned to receive BUP or MET for 24 weeks. Shift table analysis determined how many evaluable participants moved between categories of low and elevated transaminase levels. Predictors of moving from low to high transaminase levels were identified. RESULTS: Changes in transaminase levels did not differ by medication condition. Baseline infection with hepatitis C or B was the only significant predictor of moving from low to elevated transaminase levels; 9 BUP and 15 MET participants showed extreme liver test elevations and were more likely than those without extreme elevations to have seroconverted to both hepatitis B and C during the study, or to use illicit drugs during the first 8 weeks of treatment. MET participants were retained longer in treatment than BUP participants. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated no evidence of liver damage during the initial 6 months of treatment in either condition. Physicians can prescribe either medication without major concern for liver injury.
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Prescription drug overdose deaths kill 100 Americans a day in 'man-made …

Filed under: Methadone Side Effects

Most likely it was an overdose or side effect from damage to his body from drugs. And to that law abiding citizen…open your eyes. My son died from taking o e methadone 2 years ago. He was 20, and raised in a loving home. I raised my son to know right …
Read more on Jackson Clarion Ledger (blog)

AA's co-founder thought LSD might help cure alcoholics. So what?

Filed under: Methadone Side Effects

The only difference between an illegal psychoactive drug and medication is the legality. Unfortunately, due to the quasi-religious dislike of chemically induced happiness, we're only allowed the drugs that impair our functionality and have heavy side …
Read more on The Guardian

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