Changes in fentanyl demand following naltrexone, morphine, and buprenorphine in male rats. (1st February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hammerslag, Lindsey R.; Hofford, Rebecca S.; Kang, Qiwen; Kryscio, Richard J.; Beckmann, Joshua S.; Bardo, Michael T.
• Is Part Of: Drug and alcohol dependence. Volume 207(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-02-01
• Subjects: Fentanyl -- Demand -- Behavioral economics -- Buprenorphine -- Naltrexone -- Morphine -- MAT; Drug abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107804
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0376-8716

Abstract

Highlights: Behavioral economic analysis can be used with fentanyl self-administration. Elasticity of fentanyl demand is sensitive to activation or blockade of opioid receptors. Demand for fentanyl decreases following naltrexone, morphine or buprenorphine. Buprenorphine continued affecting fentanyl demand at least 48 h after treatment. Abstract: Background: Individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) exhibit high levels of economic demand for opioids, with high levels of consumption and relative insensitivity to changes in price. Because the medications used to treat OUD in medication-assisted therapy (MAT) act as antagonists or agonists at μ opioid receptors, they may alter the relationship between price and opioid intake. Methods: This study examined demand for a commonly abused synthetic prescription opioid, fentanyl, in male rats following s.c. pre-treatment with naltrexone (0.1–1.0 mg/kg), morphine (0.3–3.0 mg/kg) or buprenorphine (0.3–3.0 mg/kg). We normalized demand curves to intake at the lowest price and estimated effects on elasticity (sensitivity to changes in price). Rats were first trained to earn fentanyl (5 μg/kg/infusion) on a fixed ratio schedule, then they underwent daily training under a threshold procedure designed to produce within-session demand curve estimates. Rats received 14 threshold sessions before undergoing a series of tests encompassing each drug, at each dose. Results: Elasticity was increased by pretreatment with naltrexone, morphine or buprenorphine. Morphine also decreased initial intake, when the price for fentanyl was lowest. In contrast, initial intake was increased by naltrexone (according to an inverted-U shaped curve). The effects of naltrexone did not persist after the test session, but morphine and buprenorphine continued affecting demand elasticity 24 h or 48 h after the test, respectively. Conclusions: These results indicate that fentanyl demand is sensitive to blockade or activation of opioid receptors by the drug classes used for MAT in humans.