Psychopharmacology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Human pharmacology of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) after repeated doses taken 2 h apart.
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) is one of the most abused recreational drugs. Its usual pattern of misuse includes repeated doses taken over a short time period that could influence MDMA pharmacology and toxicity. ⋯ MDMA pharmacokinetics and metabolic disposition following two doses separated by 2 h show that the contribution of the first dose to the MDMA-induced mechanism-based metabolic inhibition was already apparent. The concentrations of MDMA after the second dose were slightly higher than expected. The effects on blood pressure and temperature after the second administration were slightly higher than those following the first, but for heart rate and subjective variables these were lower than expected considering the MDMA concentrations achieved, suggesting a possible tolerance phenomenon.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Docosahexaenoic acid-concentrated fish oil supplementation in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI): a 12-month randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Epidemiological studies have suggested a beneficial effect of fish oil supplementation in halting the initial progression of Alzheimer's disease. However, it remains unclear whether fish oil affects cognitive function in older people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). ⋯ This study suggested the potential role of fish oil to improve memory function in MCI subjects. Studies with larger sample sizes, longer intervention periods, different fish oil dosages and genetic determinations should be investigated before definite recommendations can be made.
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Heroin addiction is characterized by recurrent cycles of drug use, abstinence, and relapse. It is likely that neurobiological changes during chronic heroin exposure persist across withdrawal and impact behavioral responses to re-exposure. We hypothesized that, after extended withdrawal, heroin-withdrawn rats would express behavioral tolerance and/or sensitization in response to heroin re-exposure and that these responses might be associated with altered mu-opioid receptor (MOPr) activity. ⋯ Aspects of tolerance/sensitization to heroin are present even after extended abstinence and may be associated with altered MOPr density.
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Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly potent and addictive psychostimulant with severe detrimental effects to the health of users. Currently, METH addiction is treated with a combination of cognitive and behavioral therapies, but these traditional approaches suffer from high relapse rates. Furthermore, there are currently no pharmacological treatment interventions approved by the FDA specifically for the treatment of METH addiction. ⋯ The mGluR5 NAM fenobam attenuates the reinstatement of METH-seeking behavior, but these effects may be due to nonspecific suppression of general appetitive behaviors.
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Controlled Clinical Trial
Detecting impairment associated with cannabis with and without alcohol on the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests.
Cannabis and alcohol are the most popular drugs amongst recreational users and most prevalent in injured and deceased drivers. The Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST) are commonly used to establish impairment due to drugs and alcohol, but limited empirical evidence exists concerning the combined effects of these drugs on SFST performance. ⋯ The current results highlight the limited ability of the SFST to identify drug consumption in the absence of any evidence of driving impairment or physiological indicators.