Tetrodotoxin reduces cue-induced drug craving and anxiety in abstinent heroin addicts.
BACKGROUND
Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a neurotoxin found in puffer fish and other marine animals. New clinical studies suggest that low-dose TTX can safely relieve severe, treatment-resistant cancer pain. The therapeutic potential of TTX in addiction is supported by studies in laboratory animals. The purpose of this double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to assess the effect of a single intramuscular dose of TTX on cue-induced craving and anxiety in abstinent heroin addicts.


METHODS
Forty-five abstinent heroin addicts were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: placebo, 5 microg TTX, or 10 microg TTX. Participants were exposed to a neutral video or a heroin-related video. Craving, anxiety, blood pressure, and heart rate were measured pre- and post-exposure.


RESULTS
Heroin-related cues increased both craving and anxiety and had no effect on blood pressure and heart rate. A single dose of TTX dose-dependently attenuated the increases in craving and anxiety while having no effect on blood pressure or heart rate.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that low-dose TTX is acutely effective in reducing cue-induced increases in heroin craving and associated anxiety.
Shi
Jie
J
National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.
Liu
Ting-Ting
TT
Wang
Xi
X
Epstein
David H
DH
Zhao
Li-Yan
LY
Zhang
Xiao-Li
XL
Lu
Lin
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
D009498:Neurotoxins; D013779:Tetrodotoxin