Effects of lorcaserin on oxycodone self-administration and subjective responses in participants with opioid use disorder. (1st March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brandt, Laura; Jones, Jermaine D.; Martinez, Suky; Manubay, Jeanne M.; Mogali, Shanthi; Ramey, Tatiana; Levin, Frances R.; Comer, Sandra D.
• Is Part Of: Drug and alcohol dependence. Volume 208(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-03-01
• Subjects: Lorcaserin -- Oxycodone -- Self-Administration -- Subjective effects -- Opioid use disorder; Drug abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.107859
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0376-8716

Abstract

Highlights: Lorcaserin did not alter oxycodone self-administration. Lorcaserin had a trend to increase "wanting heroin" when oxycodone was available. Lorcaserin had a trend to accentuate oxycodone-induced miosis. Lorcaserin at a dose of 10 mg BID did not decrease the abuse liability of oxycodone. Abstract: Background: Lorcaserin, a high-affinity 5-HT2C receptor agonist approved for treating obesity, decreased self-administration of oxycodone and cue-induced reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior in preclinical studies. The current investigation is the first clinical trial to evaluate the ability of lorcaserin to alter the reinforcing and subjective effects of oxycodone. Methods: In this 7-week inpatient trial, 12 non-treatment-seeking volunteers (11 males) with moderate-to-severe opioid use disorder were detoxified from opioids. In a randomized cross-over fashion, participants were first stabilized on lorcaserin (10 mg BID) or placebo (0 mg BID). Participants underwent a two-week testing period during which the reinforcing and subjective effects of intranasal oxycodone were examined in verbal choice, cue-exposure, and progressive-ratio choice sessions. The two testing weeks were identical with the exception that during the first week, active oxycodone (10 mg) was available during verbal choice (self-administration) sessions, and during the second week placebo oxycodone was available. Subsequently, participants were stabilized on the other medication condition (placebo or lorcaserin) and underwent the same testing procedures again. Results: Lorcaserin did not alter oxycodone self-administration. However, lorcaserin had a trend to increase "wanting heroin" when oxycodone was available, and to accentuate oxycodone-induced miosis. Conclusion: Under the current experimental conditions, lorcaserin at a dose of 10 mg BID did not reliably decrease the abuse liability of oxycodone, even though the study was sufficiently powered (≥80 %) to detect clinically meaningful differences in the main outcome variables between the placebo and active lorcaserin condition. Future research could explore a wider dose range of lorcaserin and oxycodone.