Human pharmacology and abuse potential of the analgesic buprenorphine: a potential agent for treating narcotic addiction.
Buprenorphine was evaluated for its abuse potential and utility in treating narcotic addiction. The drug was morphine-like but was 25 to 50 times more potent than morphine and was longer-acting. Little if any physical dependence of clinical significance was produced by buprenorphine. The effects of morphine to 120-mg doses were blocked by buprenorphine, a blockade that persisted for 29 1/2 hours. In man, buprenorphine has less intrinsic activity than morphine, and as such, as a low abuse potential. Moreover, the drug has potential for treating narcotic addiction since it is acceptable to addicts, is long-acting, produces a low level of physical dependence such that patients may be easily detoxified, is less toxic than drugs used for maintenance therapy, and blocks the effects of narcotics.
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005059:Euphoria / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009019:Morphinans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009270:Naloxone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009294:Narcotics; D011674:Pulse / Q000187:drug effects; D011680:Pupil / Q000187:drug effects; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000187:drug effects*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*
D009019:Morphinans; D009294:Narcotics; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D009270:Naloxone; D002047:Buprenorphine; D009020:Morphine; D008691:Methadone