Relationship between plasma cortisol levels, withdrawal symptoms and craving in abstinent and treated heroin addicts.
Twelve-month treatment of heroin addicts with methadone or buprenorphine normalized plasma cortisol levels, and controlled withdrawal symptoms as well as craving. During treatment, the time course of plasma cortisol levels and craving was not strictly correlated: heroin craving was more elevated at 12 than at 3 months. The results suggest a correlation between hypercortisolism, withdrawal symptoms and heroin use and suppose a more complex role for craving and its components in drug-taking behaviour. The main goal of the pharmacological treatment of opioid-dependence should be addressed at the normalization of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis more than at the control of craving.
Nava
Felice
F
Department of Addiction Medicine, Drug Abuse Unit of Castelfranco, Veneto-Treviso, Italy. nava@ulssasolo.ven.it
Caldiroli
Emanuela
E
Premi
Stefania
S
Lucchini
Alfio
A
D000328:Adult; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D003932:Heroin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000097:blood* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009042:Motivation; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis
D009294:Narcotics; D002047:Buprenorphine; D003932:Heroin; D008691:Methadone; D006854:Hydrocortisone