What are three pharmacological characteristics of buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex) or LAAM (Orlamm) that would make them potentially useful in the treatment of heroin addiction?

What will be an ideal response?


Buprenorphine is a mixed opiate agonist-antagonist and LAAM is an opiate agonist. Both block or reduce the reinforcing effects of heroin through cross-tolerance or actual receptor blockade, and they reduce the craving for heroin. They are reliably absorbed when taken orally and have a longer duration of action than methadone, so they only need to be administered one to three times a week. Their mood altering properties are minimal and the abstinence syndrome associated with these drugs, while protracted, is very mild, so they have a much lower abuse potential than heroin. The two formulations for buprenorphine (Subutex and Suboxone) are particularly useful because they can be prescribed in a physician's office, which will allow more patients the opportunity to access treatment. Also, as patients progress in therapy, their doctor may write a prescription for a take-home supply of the medication.

Psychology

You might also like to view...

Was developed in the belief that pleasant events might lessen the effects of hassles on health.

A. Polygraph B. Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) C. Perceived control. D. uplifts scale

Psychology

Electric shock is a commonly used aversive stimulus in part because it is

a. highly acceptable. b. easily administered. c. not painful. d. minimally reactive.

Psychology

Cattell's creative eugenics program would:

a. encourage less intelligent people to have more children b. encourage poorer people to have more children c. encourage more socially successful people to have more children d. discourage richer people from having any children

Psychology

A healthy 75-year-old brain has just as many neurons as it did when it was a healthy 25-year-old brain

Indicate whether this statement is true or false

Psychology