Methadone drug studies

Jones HE, Johnson RE, Jasinski DR, Milio L. Randomized controlled study transitioning opioid-dependent pregnant women from short-acting morphine to buprenorphine or methadone. Drug Alcohol Depend 2005 78, 33-8. 

The factors that correlate with treatment success do not clearly apply to success after detoxification from methadone maintenance. Correlates of successful detoxification include 1) less criminal behavior 2) more stable family 3) more stable employment 4) shorter drug history 5) long maintenance with lower dosage and 6) discharge status, with patient and staff consensus as opposed to unilateral discharge from treatment (Dole and Joseph 1978). In one study, addicts were followed an average of 2 years after detoxification (Stim-mel et al. 1977). Although only 28% of the total sample remained abstinent, 83% of those who had fully completed treatment remained abstinent. Another study of 105 patients detoxified after methadone maintenance treatment documented an 82% relapse rate within 12 months (Ball and Ross 1991). These... 

Hubbard RL, Marsden ME, Rachal JV, et al Drug Abuse Treatment A National Study of Effectiveness. Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Press, 1989 Hunt DE, Lipton DS, Goldsmith DS, et al It takes yom heart the image of methadone maintenance in the addict world and its effect on recruitment into treatment. Int J Addict 20 1751-1771, 1985-1986... 

Kleber HD, Weissman MM, Rounsaville BJ, et al Imipramine as treatment for depression in addicts. Arch Gen Psychiatry 40 649-633, 1983 Kleber HD, Riordan CE, Rounsaville BJ, et al Clonidine in outpatient detoxification from methadone maintenance. Arch Gen Psychiatry 42 391-394, 1983 Kleber HD, Topazian M, Gaspari J, et al Clonidine and naltrexone in the outpatient treatment of heroin withdrawal. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 13 1-17, 1987 Kornetsky C. Brain stimulation reward, morphine-induced stereotypy, and sensitization implications for abuse. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 27 777-786, 2004 Kosten TR, Kleber HD Buprenorphine detoxification from opioid dependence a pilot study. Life Sci 42 633-641, 1988... 

Fudala P., Johnson R., Jaffe J. Outpatient comparison of buprenorphine and methadone maintenance. II. Effects of cocaine usage, retention time in study and missed clinical visits. In Harrison L., Ed. Problems of Drug Dependence. Natl. Inst. Mental Health Res. Monogr. 105 587, 1991. 

Esteban J, Gimeno C, Barril J, Aragones A, Climent JM and de la Cruz-Pellin M (2003). Survival study of opioid addicts in relation to its adherence to methadone maintenance treatment. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 70, 193-200. 

Finally, it is important to remember that, in case of racemic drugs, it is important to resort to stereoselective methods to detect possible differences in the actions of the test compounds at the desired target and hERG channels. For instance, a recent study detected differences between (R)- and (S)-methadone [115]. 

The PE spectra of some other alkaloids like methadone and the opiate narcotics morphine, codeine and heroin have been investigated by Klasinc and coworkers95. Also in this study structure-activity relationships based on IPs were sought but not found. Since the interaction of the drug molecule with the receptor is highly specific, it is not unreasonable that the molecular rather than the electronic structure is more important for the physiological activity. 

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