Patterns of response to acute naloxone infusion in Tourette's syndrome.
The purpose of this study was to replicate findings from an earlier pilot study in which we found a dose-related effect of the opioid antagonist naloxone on tic behavior in patients with Tourette's syndrome (TS). Fifteen subjects with TS were challenged with randomized doses (30 and 300 microg/kg) of naloxone at 3-day intervals. Videotaped recordings of tic behavior were counted in a "blind" fashion. We found that naloxone had opposite effects on tics at different dosages. The low dose caused a significant decrease in tics, whereas the high dose caused a significant increase in tics. Therefore, activity at opioid receptors appears to influence the expression of TS, and the difference in response to naloxone in TS subjects may be based on a dose-response effect.
van Wattum
P J
PJ
Child Study Center, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Chappell
P B
PB
Zelterman
D
D
Scahill
L D
LD
Leckman
J F
JF
D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009270:Naloxone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000187:drug effects*; D013981:Tic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D009270:Naloxone