title: Effects of sublingually given naloxone in opioid-dependent human volunteers.
abstract: To determine whether sublingual naloxone could precipitate withdrawal in opioid-dependent subjects, naloxone was administered in increasing doses (0-8 mg in four or six sessions conducted over 2 days) to six heroin abusers and three methadone (30 mg/day, p.o.) maintenance patients. Two or three sessions were conducted per day with 2- to 2.5-h intervals between same-day sessions. Naloxone precipitated withdrawal in two of six heroin abusers and in all three methadone subjects. Naloxone is sufficiently absorbed sublingually to precipitate abstinence in dependent subjects, but naloxone doses up to 1-2 mg can be administered sublingually to opioid abusers/addicts without precipitating withdrawal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21224.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Preston
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Bigelow
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Liebson
mesh_terms: D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009270:Naloxone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D009270:Naloxone; D008691:Methadone