title: Ondansetron and opiate craving. A novel pharmacological approach to addiction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pharmacological approaches to opiate addiction have for the most part been limited to a role in detoxification. A high percentage of patients who complete detoxification programmes relapse.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, we used a simple laboratory method to investigate suggestions from preclinical studies that 5-(hydroxytryptamine) HT3 receptor antagonists have a role in the treatment of addiction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We showed that addicts stably maintained on methadone experienced significant craving, dysphoria, and withdrawal-like symptoms when exposed to a video containing drug-related cues. The craving was not lessened by treatment with the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, ondansetron (4 mg orally).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our current findings do not support a role for 5-HT3 receptor agonists in the reduction of craving in opiate addicts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Addictive Behaviour, Warneford Hospital, Oxford.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Sell
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cowen
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Robson
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009294:Narcotics; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D017294:Ondansetron; D008691:Methadone