Compare and contrast the relative efficacy of methadone (Dolophine) and naltrexone (ReVia) in the treatment of heroin addiction

What will be an ideal response?


Methadone and naltrexone are both orally effective and long-lasting drugs that reduce (methadone) or eliminate (naltrexone) the reinforcing effects that might accompany heroin administration. Methadone does this because it is an opiate agonist and produces cross-tolerance to heroin, whereas naltrexone is an opiate antagonist and blocks heroin's access to brain receptors. Methadone can be given to the physically dependent addict and used to either gradually wean the addict off opiates with gradual decrease in dose. Since it also decreases heroin craving considerably, addicts are more likely to continue methadone treatment. Naltrexone would only be used with addicts that are no longer physically dependent, but because it doesn't reduce the craving for opiates, the person would have to be highly motivated to maintain abstinence.

Psychology

You might also like to view...

Although vasodilating drugs such as papaverine and prostaglandin are effective in producing an erection for patients with erectile dysfunction, many patients discontinue use of the drugs because of

A. pain associated with drug administration. B. the fact that these drugs eventually cure the disorder. C. the expense of the drug. D. the fact that the effectiveness of the drug decreases with continued use.

Psychology

You are reading a newsletter that summarizes the conclusions of a large number of studies in psychology. Which of the following is the most likely summary of research on the influence of heredity and environment on intelligence?

a) The environment is the primary factor in intelligence; heredity plays a trivial role. b) Heredity establishes a range of intelligence scores; where a person falls in that range depends on environmental factors. c) Heredity is the principal determinant of intelligence as evidenced by a heritability that is virtually the same as that for height. d) Despite years of investigation, researchers have not been able to disentangle the influences of heredity and the environment except in cases of abnormality.

Psychology

Which is one of the three factors that makes noise stressful?

A. tone of the noise B. distance from noise C. percieved lack of control over noise D. type of noise

Psychology

In 2016, Pope Francis referred to the Internet as “_________________”.

Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).

Psychology