Propofol pretreatment induced place preference and self-administration of the tiletamine-zolazepam combination: implication on drug of abuse substitution. (July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de la Peña, June Bryan; Ahsan, Hafiz Muhammad; dela Peña, Irene Joy; Park, Hyun Bin; Kim, Hee Jin; Sohn, Aeree; Kim, Yun Tai; Cheong, Jae Hoon
• Is Part Of: American journal of drug and alcohol abuse. Volume 40:Number 4(2014:Jul.)
• Page Start: 321
• Page End: 326
• Publication Date: 2014-07
• Subjects: Drug abuse -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Substance-abuse -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Substance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.3109/00952990.2014.920850
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0095-2990

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Background</italic>: Propofol and the tiletamine-zolazepam combination are anesthetics with both sedative-hypnotic and hallucinogenic effects. In South Korea, propofol is controlled while the tiletamine-zolazepam combination is not. Thus, there is a possibility that this drug combination might be used as a substitute drug by propofol-abusers. <italic>Objective</italic>: In the present study we evaluated whether repeated pre-exposure to propofol predisposes to the use/abuse of the tiletamine-zolazepam combination. <italic>Methods</italic>: Rats (8–10 animals/group) were pre-treated with saline (control) or propofol at different dosages (10, 30, 60 mg/kg, i.p.), for 14 days, then conditioned place preference (CPP) and self-administration (SA) for the tiletamine-zolazepam combination were evaluated. <italic>Results</italic>: Rats pretreated with saline exhibited neither CPP nor SA for the tiletamine-zolazepam combination. On the other hand, rats pretreated with propofol, in all dosages, demonstrated significant CPP and SA for the tiletamine-zolazepam combination. <italic>Conclusion</italic>: These results suggest that tiletamine-zolazepam combinations might be used as a "substitute drug" by abusers of propofol. The careful use, dispensation, and monitoring of tiletamine-zolazepam combinations are advocated.</p> </abstract>