The Mixed Opioid Receptor Antagonist Naltrexone Mitigates Stimulant-Induced Euphoria: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Naltrexone. 2018

Thomas J Spencer, and Pradeep Bhide, and Jinmin Zhu, and Stephen V Faraone, and Maura Fitzgerald, and Amy M Yule, and Mai Uchida, and Andrea E Spencer, and Anna M Hall, and Ariana J Koster, and Leah Feinberg, and Sarah Kassabian, and Barbara Storch, and Joseph Biederman
Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Warren 705, Boston, MA 02144. spencer@helix.mgh.harvard.edu.

Supratherapeutic doses of methylphenidate activate μ-opioid receptors, which are linked to euphoria. This study assessed whether naltrexone, a mixed μ-opioid antagonist, may attenuate the euphoric effects of stimulants, thereby minimizing their abuse potential in subjects with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We conducted a 6-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial of naltrexone in adults with DSM-IV ADHD receiving open treatment with a long-acting formulation of methylphenidate (January 2013 to June 2015). Spheroidal Oral Drug Absorption System methylphenidate (SODAS-MPH) was administered twice daily, was titrated to ~1 mg/kg/d over 3 weeks, and was continued for 3 additional weeks depending on response and adverse effects. Subjects were adults with ADHD preselected for having experienced euphoria with an oral test dose of 60 mg of immediate-release methylphenidate (IR-MPH). The primary outcome measure was Question 2 (Liking a Drug Effect) on the Drug Rating Questionnaire, Subject version, which was assessed after oral test doses of 60 mg of IR-MPH were administered after the third and sixth weeks of treatment with SODAS-MPH. Thirty-seven subjects who experienced stimulant-induced (mild) euphoria at a baseline visit were started in the open trial of SODAS-MPH and randomized to naltrexone 50 mg/d or placebo. Thirty-one subjects completed through week 3, and 25 completed through week 6. Naltrexone significantly diminished the euphoric effect of IR-MPH during the heightened-risk titration phase (primary outcome; first 3 weeks) (χ² = 5.07, P = .02) but not the maintenance phase (weeks 4-6) (χ² = 0.22, P = .64) of SODAS-MPH treatment. Preclinical findings are extended to humans showing that naltrexone may mitigate stimulant-associated euphoria. Our findings provide support for further studies combining opioid receptor antagonists with stimulants to reduce abuse potential. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01673594.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008774 Methylphenidate A central nervous system stimulant used most commonly in the treatment of ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER in children and for NARCOLEPSY. Its mechanisms appear to be similar to those of DEXTROAMPHETAMINE. The d-isomer of this drug is referred to as DEXMETHYLPHENIDATE HYDROCHLORIDE. Centedrin,Concerta,Daytrana,Equasym,Metadate,Methylin,Methylphenidate Hydrochloride,Phenidylate,Ritalin,Ritalin-SR,Ritaline,Tsentedrin,Hydrochloride, Methylphenidate,Ritalin SR
D009271 Naltrexone Derivative of noroxymorphone that is the N-cyclopropylmethyl congener of NALOXONE. It is a narcotic antagonist that is effective orally, longer lasting and more potent than naloxone, and has been proposed for the treatment of heroin addiction. The FDA has approved naltrexone for the treatment of alcohol dependence. Antaxone,Celupan,EN-1639A,Nalorex,Naltrexone Hydrochloride,Nemexin,ReVia,Trexan,EN 1639A,EN1639A
D009292 Narcotic Antagonists Agents inhibiting the effect of narcotics on the central nervous system. Competitive Opioid Antagonist,Narcotic Antagonist,Opioid Antagonist,Opioid Antagonists,Opioid Receptor Antagonist,Opioid Reversal Agent,Competitive Opioid Antagonists,Opioid Receptor Antagonists,Opioid Reversal Agents,Agent, Opioid Reversal,Agents, Opioid Reversal,Antagonist, Competitive Opioid,Antagonist, Narcotic,Antagonist, Opioid,Antagonist, Opioid Receptor,Antagonists, Competitive Opioid,Antagonists, Narcotic,Antagonists, Opioid,Antagonists, Opioid Receptor,Opioid Antagonist, Competitive,Opioid Antagonists, Competitive,Receptor Antagonist, Opioid,Receptor Antagonists, Opioid,Reversal Agent, Opioid,Reversal Agents, Opioid
D004311 Double-Blind Method A method of studying a drug or procedure in which both the subjects and investigators are kept unaware of who is actually getting which specific treatment. Double-Masked Study,Double-Blind Study,Double-Masked Method,Double Blind Method,Double Blind Study,Double Masked Method,Double Masked Study,Double-Blind Methods,Double-Blind Studies,Double-Masked Methods,Double-Masked Studies,Method, Double-Blind,Method, Double-Masked,Methods, Double-Blind,Methods, Double-Masked,Studies, Double-Blind,Studies, Double-Masked,Study, Double-Blind,Study, Double-Masked
D004334 Drug Administration Schedule Time schedule for administration of a drug in order to achieve optimum effectiveness and convenience. Administration Schedule, Drug,Administration Schedules, Drug,Drug Administration Schedules,Schedule, Drug Administration,Schedules, Drug Administration
D005059 Euphoria An exaggerated feeling of physical and emotional well-being not consonant with apparent stimuli or events; usually of psychologic origin, but also seen in organic brain disease and toxic states. Euphorias
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths

Related Publications

Thomas J Spencer, and Pradeep Bhide, and Jinmin Zhu, and Stephen V Faraone, and Maura Fitzgerald, and Amy M Yule, and Mai Uchida, and Andrea E Spencer, and Anna M Hall, and Ariana J Koster, and Leah Feinberg, and Sarah Kassabian, and Barbara Storch, and Joseph Biederman
June 1987, Biological psychiatry,
Thomas J Spencer, and Pradeep Bhide, and Jinmin Zhu, and Stephen V Faraone, and Maura Fitzgerald, and Amy M Yule, and Mai Uchida, and Andrea E Spencer, and Anna M Hall, and Ariana J Koster, and Leah Feinberg, and Sarah Kassabian, and Barbara Storch, and Joseph Biederman
January 2012, Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova,
Thomas J Spencer, and Pradeep Bhide, and Jinmin Zhu, and Stephen V Faraone, and Maura Fitzgerald, and Amy M Yule, and Mai Uchida, and Andrea E Spencer, and Anna M Hall, and Ariana J Koster, and Leah Feinberg, and Sarah Kassabian, and Barbara Storch, and Joseph Biederman
April 2011, Lancet (London, England),
Thomas J Spencer, and Pradeep Bhide, and Jinmin Zhu, and Stephen V Faraone, and Maura Fitzgerald, and Amy M Yule, and Mai Uchida, and Andrea E Spencer, and Anna M Hall, and Ariana J Koster, and Leah Feinberg, and Sarah Kassabian, and Barbara Storch, and Joseph Biederman
January 2020, Molecular pain,
Thomas J Spencer, and Pradeep Bhide, and Jinmin Zhu, and Stephen V Faraone, and Maura Fitzgerald, and Amy M Yule, and Mai Uchida, and Andrea E Spencer, and Anna M Hall, and Ariana J Koster, and Leah Feinberg, and Sarah Kassabian, and Barbara Storch, and Joseph Biederman
April 2009, Biological psychiatry,
Thomas J Spencer, and Pradeep Bhide, and Jinmin Zhu, and Stephen V Faraone, and Maura Fitzgerald, and Amy M Yule, and Mai Uchida, and Andrea E Spencer, and Anna M Hall, and Ariana J Koster, and Leah Feinberg, and Sarah Kassabian, and Barbara Storch, and Joseph Biederman
February 2020, Annals of clinical psychiatry : official journal of the American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists,
Thomas J Spencer, and Pradeep Bhide, and Jinmin Zhu, and Stephen V Faraone, and Maura Fitzgerald, and Amy M Yule, and Mai Uchida, and Andrea E Spencer, and Anna M Hall, and Ariana J Koster, and Leah Feinberg, and Sarah Kassabian, and Barbara Storch, and Joseph Biederman
January 1992, The Israel journal of psychiatry and related sciences,
Thomas J Spencer, and Pradeep Bhide, and Jinmin Zhu, and Stephen V Faraone, and Maura Fitzgerald, and Amy M Yule, and Mai Uchida, and Andrea E Spencer, and Anna M Hall, and Ariana J Koster, and Leah Feinberg, and Sarah Kassabian, and Barbara Storch, and Joseph Biederman
November 2023, Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.),
Thomas J Spencer, and Pradeep Bhide, and Jinmin Zhu, and Stephen V Faraone, and Maura Fitzgerald, and Amy M Yule, and Mai Uchida, and Andrea E Spencer, and Anna M Hall, and Ariana J Koster, and Leah Feinberg, and Sarah Kassabian, and Barbara Storch, and Joseph Biederman
February 2014, Journal of clinical psychopharmacology,
Thomas J Spencer, and Pradeep Bhide, and Jinmin Zhu, and Stephen V Faraone, and Maura Fitzgerald, and Amy M Yule, and Mai Uchida, and Andrea E Spencer, and Anna M Hall, and Ariana J Koster, and Leah Feinberg, and Sarah Kassabian, and Barbara Storch, and Joseph Biederman
January 2004, Journal of hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery,
Copied contents to your clipboard!