Aprepitant Effects in Intravenous Heroin Dependence
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2015-02-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Current treatments for opioid addiction would benefit by the addition of a non-opioid based
treatment medication. Recent behavioral studies have shown that the neurokinin-1 (NK1)
receptor is involved in opioid reward and withdrawal. This study proposes to study a
potential non-opioid treatment, the clinically available, FDA approved, NK1 antagonist
aprepitant, in opioid addicted patients. Based on the unique behavioral and pharmacological
characteristics of opioid addiction, and what is known of the currently employed treatments,
the investigators propose that the therapeutic mechanism of any potential opioid addiction
treatment medication must include the ability to reduce opioid withdrawal. This is of
particular importance during treatment initiation (eg. detoxification). In addition, for
long-term treatment and relapse prevention, it is important to manage drug craving and
inhibit the rewarding effects of opioids if patients do experience a slip. Therefore, the
investigators propose to study aprepitant using human models of opioid withdrawal, craving
and acute opioid reward and reinforcement. The investigators will also include a
neuro-economics choice procedure paradigm.