Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D R Sweeney

Publications and source records attributed to D R Sweeney.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Evidence for an endorphin dysfunction in methadone addicts: lack of ACTH response to naloxone.

Chronic exogenous opiate administration might be responsible for the acute and protracted abstinence syndrome by producing a prolonged decrease in the availability of endogenous opioids (endorphins). However, the hypothesis that potent exogenous opiates may have anti-endorphin effects has been difficult to test. We have been investigating this hypothesis with neuroendocrine test paradigms which have provided preliminary evidence of anti-endorphin effects for chronic methadone. Naloxone-induced ACTH response data from chronic methadone addicts offers preliminary support for the hypothesis that chronic exogenous opiate administration has anti-endorphin effects. The subjects were 7 male methadone addicts who had been addicted to greater than or equal to 40 mg of methadone and 7 male healthy opiate-naive volunteers. Naloxone failed to produce a significant increase in ACTH in methadone addicts while opiate-naive normal volunteers demonstrated a significant naloxone-induced release of ACTH. Five of the seven methadone addicts ahd no demonstrable ACTH response to naloxone. These impaired naloxone response data reported here for recently detoxified addicts suggest that chronic methadone administration comprises the functional integrity of the endorphin system. Prolonged abstinence, post-detoxification depression and other affective symptoms which contribute to relapse may result from a prolonged endorphin derangement.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1980

Opiate withdrawal using clonidine. A safe, effective, and rapid nonopiate treatment.

Clonidine hydrochloride was administered to ten patients in an inpatient setting after abrupt discontinuation of chronic methadone hydrochloride administration. Clonidine produced a rapid and statistically significant decrease in opiate withdrawal signs and symptoms. Clonidine administration for 14 days enabled all patients to be successfully detoxified from chronic opiate administration. In all patients studied, clonidine was a safe and effective nonopiate treatment of opiate withdrawal that suppressed the affect, signs, and symptoms of opiate withdrawal. These data support the hypothesis that the alpha 2-adrenergic agonist, clonidine, has substantial antiwithdrawal effect by replacing opiate-mediated inhibition with alpha 2-mediated inhibition of brain noradrenergic activity.

Brain↗
PubMed1980

Plasma free and conjugated MHPG in psychiatric patients. A pilot study.

Measures of plasma 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenethyleneglycol (MHPG) may be useful for investigating noradrenergic function in certain behavioral and physiologic states. Serial plasma and urine samples were obtained from a diagnostically heterogeneous group of ten psychiatric inpatients over a three- to five-day period. The plasma samples were assayed for free and total MHPG and the urine samples for total MPHG. The variance between patients in both plasma free and conjugated MHPG was markedly greater than the variance within patients. The test-retest reliability for free plasma MHPG in both AM vs PM values within and across study days was also significant for both free and conjugated MHPG even though the AM plasma free MHPG values were significantly greater than the PM values. No significant correlations were found between plasma free and conjugated MHPG or between urinary total MHPG and plasma free MHPG.

Adult↗