Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1-2
pubmed:dateCreated
1997-2-27
pubmed:abstractText
Benzodiazepines are commonly abused concurrently with opioids. The pharmacological rationale for this remains unknown. The present study has addressed behaviourally and neurochemically the action of alprazolam on the naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal syndrome in male rats. In naloxone (1 mg kg-1 i.p.)-precipitated morphine withdrawn rats, alprazolam (2.5 mg kg-1 s.c.) reduced the severity of the affective component, as measured by squeal on touch hostility, and the physical sequelae of opioid withdrawal. The microdialysis study in anaesthetized rats identified an increase in noradrenaline levels in hippocampal dialysates in rats undergoing naloxone-precipitated opioid withdrawal. Acute treatment with alprazolam (2.5 mg kg-1 s.c.) 20 min before administration of naloxone prevented the previously identified increase in noradrenaline in hippocampal dialysates. The only observable effect alprazolam induced in non-morphine-dependent rats was a 15% reduction in spontaneous locomotor activity. In conclusion, one interpretation of the data suggests that alprazolam decreases the withdrawal syndrome in rats through dampening down the previously identified hyperactivity of the locus coeruleus.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Oct
pubmed:issn
0014-2999
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
10
pubmed:volume
313
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
73-7
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1996
pubmed:articleTitle
Effect of alprazolam on opiate withdrawal: a combined behavioural and microdialysis study.
pubmed:affiliation
University Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK. alegra@lab.hsl.ecu.edu
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't