Aprepitant Effects on Oxycodone Response

Summary

Addressing the issue of opioid dependence and tolerance has public health implications for the treatment of opioid abuse (both heroin as well as pharmaceutical opioids) and for the treatment of pain. Recent preclinical data suggest a role for Substance P (NK-1) receptors in modulating both the acute and chronic response to opioids. The objective of this study is to determine whether pretreatment with aprepitant, a selective neurokinin-1 (NK-1) antagonist can reduce the direct response to an opioid agonist (oxycodone) on measures related to abuse liability and reinforcing effects.

Timeline

Start

2009-10

Primary completion

2011-04

Completion

2011-04

Publications

• Results Walsh SL, Heilig M, Nuzzo PA, Henderson P, Lofwall MR. Effects of the NK1 antagonist, aprepitant, on response to oral and intranasal oxycodone in prescription opioid abusers. Addict Biol. 2013 Mar;18(2):332-43. doi: 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2011.00419.x. Epub 2012 Jan 19.

Drugs

Indications