Articles: narcotic-antagonists.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Anger management style and endogenous opioid function: is gender a moderator?
This study explored possible gender moderation of previously reported associations between elevated trait anger-out and reduced endogenous opioid analgesia. One hundred forty-five healthy participants underwent acute electrocutaneous pain stimulation after placebo and oral opioid blockade in separate sessions. Blockade effects were derived reflecting changes in pain responses induced by opioid blockade. ⋯ The anger-in/opioid association was partially due to overlap with anger-out, but the converse was not true. These findings provide additional evidence of an association between trait anger-out and endogenous opioid analgesia, but further suggest that gender may moderate these effects. In contrast to past work, anger-in was related to reduced opioid analgesia, although overlap with anger-out may contribute to this finding.
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J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. · Jun 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyTreatment of pruritus with topically applied opiate receptor antagonist.
Pruritus is the most common and distressing skin symptom, and treatment of itch is a problem for thousands of people. The currently available therapies are not very effective. Therefore there is an urgent need to find new effective topical drugs against itching. ⋯ The placebo-controlled study showed a significant advantage of topically applied naltrexone over the placebo formulation. This finding is supported by the biopsy results from the open studies, showing a regulation of MOR expression in epidermis after treatment with topical naltrexone, especially in atopic dermatitis. These results clearly show potential for topically applied opioid receptor antagonist in the treatment of pruritus. The placebo formulation also had some antipruritic effects. This underlines the importance of rehydration therapy for dry skin in the treatment of pruritus.
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Palliat Support Care · Jun 2007
ReviewA review of methylnaltrexone, a peripheral opioid receptor antagonist, and its role in opioid-induced constipation.
Opioid medications are frequently used in pain and palliative care patients with malignancy to manage symptoms such as pain and dyspnea. However, opiates are associated with various side effects. Constipation is a particularly problematic and common side effect of opioid pharmacology. Opioid antagonists have been studied in the management of opioid-induced constipation. Methylnaltrexone (MNTX) is a peripheral opioid antagonist currently under clinical investigation. It offers the potential to reverse undesirable side effects without reversing analgesia. ⋯ Larger clinical trials of MNTX are still necessary to support its use as a standard for treatment of opioid-induced constipation.
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To review the mechanisms of action of methylnaltrexone and its effects on opioid bowel dysfunction, as well as its effects on other opioid-induced adverse effects (ADEs), and its potential roles in clinical practice. ⋯ Methylnaltrexone has the potential to prevent or treat opioid-induced peripherally mediated ADEs on bowel dysfunction without interfering with central analgesia. The study of methylnaltrexone leads to a greater understanding of the mechanisms of action of opioid pharmacology.
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Naltrexone blocks the opioid receptors that modulate the release of dopamine in the brain reward system and therefore blocks the rewarding effects of heroin and alcohol. It is generally assumed that naltrexone leads to reduction of craving, but few studies have been performed to prove this. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of the administration of naltrexone on craving level after rapid opioid detoxification induced by naltrexone. ⋯ These results suggest that the use of opioids is associated with increased craving and that abstinence for opioids is associated with less craving, independent of the use of naltrexone. This is in contrast to the general opinion. Because of the naturalistic design of the study, no firm conclusions can be drawn, but the results grounded the needs of an experimental study.