Different patterns of administration modulate propensity of methadone and buprenorphine to promote locomotor sensitization in mice.

Filed under: Methadone Clinics

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2012 Oct 25;
Allouche S, Le Marec T, Noble F, Marie N

Following chronic administration of morphine a locomotor sensitization is usually observed. This behavioral sensitization is influenced by numerous factors including the administration pattern. While methadone and buprenorphine are the two main treatments for opioid dependence, literature about their ability to promote long-term sensitization after chronic exposure/withdrawal are scarce considering the long-term treatments used in patients. In this study we investigated the propensity of these two opioids to promote behavioral sensitization using different patterns of administration. Mice were treated with escalating doses of methadone or buprenorphine during 5days given either once (binge) or three times a day (TTD). After a 1-, 7-, 14- and 35-days washout period, animals were challenged with either morphine or the opioid used for the chronic treatment to evaluate heterologous or homologous sensitization, respectively. While methadone produced homologous and heterologous sensitization either with the binge or the TTD regimen over the whole period studied, buprenorphine induced a transient heterologous locomotor sensitization on day 14 only with the binge administration. Our data evidenced a different ability of methadone and buprenorphine to produce behavioral sensitization and that the pattern of drug exposure determined the expression of this phenomenon.
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Sudden Cardiac Arrest in a Patient on Chronic Methadone After the Addition of Azithromycin.

Filed under: Methadone Clinics

Am J Med Sci. 2012 Oct 25;
Winton JC, Twilla JD

ABSTRACT:: Corrected QT-interval (QTc) prolongation with increased risk of fatal arrhythmia is a well-established toxicity of methadone. In this study, a case of sudden cardiac arrest in a patient on chronic methadone therapy is presented. A 47-year-old man presented unresponsive to the emergency department after pulseless arrest at his home. The patient’s wife revealed he was taking methadone as part of an ongoing opioid dependency treatment and that he was prescribed azithromycin for an upper respiratory tract infection 3 days before his presentation. A 12-lead electrocardiogram at the time of presentation showed sinus tachycardia and a QTc of 490 milliseconds. It was concluded that the patient experienced a fatal arrhythmia because of QTc prolongation, precipitated by azithromycin in the setting of ongoing methadone use.
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Weight changes of patients in methadone maintenance treatment during four years period.

Filed under: Methadone Clinics

Cas Lek Cesk. 2012; 151(8): 389-391
Okruhlica L, Slezáková S

Background. Besides significant reduction in heroin consumption, weight gain is an accompanying phenomenon during methadone maintenance treatment. Priority of this on-going study was to find out, if it is stable, or transitory. We were also interested in possible contribution of pharmacological and socio-cultural factors on body weight changes.Methods and Results. It was a longitudinal, clinical, observational study. The sample consisted of 42 patients from methadone maintenance treatment program (MMTP) from the Centre for Treatment of Drug Dependencies in Bratislava. Their average age was 28.6 years (SD ± 6.0); 67 % were males. The weight (kg) and body mass index (BMI) were monitored in the series of five measurements during four years period in MMTP: at treatment entry after one year, after two, after three and after four years in the program. Relationship was also explored between daily dose of methadone and BMI. The average weight of the patients and their BMI were: before the entry into MMTP 65.2 kg (SD ± 13.9) and 22.2 (SD ± 3.9); after one year 72.7 kg (SD ± 15.3) and 24.7 (SD ± 4.1); after two 75.2 kg (SD ± 16.7) and 25.6 (SD ± 4.4); after three 74.2 kg (SD ± 17.1) and 25.1 (SD ± 4.5); after four years 75.0 kg (SD ± 16.5) and 25.2 (SD ± 4.2). Significant increase of BMI was detected after one year (t = 5.03; p < 0.001) and less significant between one and two years (t = 2.5; p < 0.05) in MMTP. Significant difference was also found between proportional distributions of the patients according to BMI categories: underweight, norm, overweight, obesity; at the time of entry to MMTP and after one year in it (?² = 13.6; p < 0.01). No any other statistically significant changes were found later on, after 1 - 4 years from the entry to the treatment. The correlation between daily dose of methadone and BMI (r = 0.273) was not significant after four years in MMTP. Conclusions. The weight of the patients in MMTP has increased significantly after one year in the treatment, but remained stable from the second year. No substantial correlation was detected between methadone dose and BMI. Key words: methadone maintenance treatment, opiate substitution, weight, BMI, obesity. Source

Gloucester Police/Fire: Methadone client took computer scrap from hosptital

Filed under: Methadone Clinics

A mystery patient at Addison Gilbert Hospital's methadone clinic is accused of stealing scrap computer parts from the hospital. Security officers at the hospital reported that a client of the methadone clinic took a computer part off a pallet headed …
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