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Morphinelike arousal by methadone during sleep
Abstract:
Methadone was investigated to see if it induced an insomnia comparable to that after single doses of morphine. After one adaptation night, the sleep of seven male nondependent opiate addicts was studied after intramuscular methadone (7.5, 15, or 30 mg/70 kg), morphine (10 or 20 mg/70 kg), and placebo at weekly intervals in a randomized double-blind crossover design. Drug effects were measured on several sleep and wakefulness patterns. Methadone is equipotent to morphine in its increase of wakefulness, drowsiness, muscle tension, shifts in sleep-waking state, and latency to rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) and its decrease of sleep efficiency, delta sleep, and REMS. This similarity of methadone to morphine in acute arousal from sleep is in contrast to the differences between these two drugs during long-term administration, when morphine induces a small but persistent arousal and methadone does not.
Insights
Methadone and morphine have similar acute effects on sleep, increasing wakefulness and decreasing sleep quality. However, long-term use shows differences in their impact on arousal.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Sleep Medicine
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Opioid medications like methadone and morphine are widely used for pain management.
- Understanding their acute and chronic effects on sleep is crucial for patient care.
- Previous research suggests differing long-term effects on arousal between methadone and morphine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the acute effects of methadone and morphine on sleep patterns.
- To investigate if methadone induces insomnia similar to morphine.
- To examine differences in arousal effects between the two opioids.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind, crossover study design was employed.
- Seven non-dependent male opiate addicts participated.
- Sleep patterns were monitored after administration of methadone, morphine, or placebo via intramuscular injection.
Main Results:
- Methadone and morphine demonstrated equipotent effects on increasing wakefulness and drowsiness.
- Both drugs significantly reduced sleep efficiency and delta sleep.
- Latency to rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) increased, while total REMS decreased with both opioids.
Conclusions:
- Acute administration of methadone produces sleep-arousal effects comparable to morphine.
- This contrasts with observed differences in long-term administration, where morphine causes persistent arousal and methadone does not.
- Findings highlight distinct chronic effects despite similar acute sleep disruption profiles.