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Effects of methadone on cognition, mood and craving in detoxifying opiate addicts: a dose-response study
H V Curran1, J Kleckham, J Bearn
1Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, UK. v.curran@ucl.ac.uk
Rationale:
Methadone is the most widespread pharmacological treatment for opiate dependency but relatively little is known of its effects on cognitive and psychomotor functioning, drug craving and mood.
Objective:
The present study aimed to assess the acute effects of methadone in patients admitted to an opiate detoxification programme.
Methods:
Patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups who received either 50% or 100% of their daily stabilisation dose, and a placebo, in a double-blind, cross-over design. Twenty patients completed the study, all were assessed pre- and post-drug on 2 separate testing days.
Results:
Performance on a task tapping episodic memory (delayed recall of a prose passage) was significantly impaired following the 100% daily dose of methadone. Methadone treatment had no effect on craving or mood. Patients were unable to distinguish between methadone and placebo treatments.
Conclusions:
A single dose of methadone can induce episodic memory impairment in patients who have a history of heroin use averaging more than 10 years. Such impairment can be avoided by giving methadone in divided doses.