Durgin CJ, Huhn AS, Bergeria CL, Finan PH, Campbell CM, Antoine DG, Dunn KE. Within subject, double blind, examination of
opioid sensitivity in participant-reported, observed, physiologic, and analgesic outcomes.
Drug Alcohol Depend Rep 2023;
8:100188. [PMID:
37731966 PMCID:
PMC10507188 DOI:
10.1016/j.dadr.2023.100188]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Background
Inter-individual differences in opioid sensitivity may underlie different opioid risk profiles but have often been researched in persons who have current or past opioid use disorder or physical dependence. This study examined how opioid sensitivity manifests across various assessments of opioid effects in a primarily opioid-naïve population.
Procedures
Data were harmonized from two within-subject, double-blind trials wherein healthy participants (N = 123) received placebo and 4 mg oral hydromorphone. Demographics, self-report ratings, observer ratings, physiological, and cold pressor measures were collected. Participants were categorized as being responsive or nonresponsive to the opioid dose tested and compared using mixed-models, Pearson product correlations, and paired t-tests.
Findings
Participants were 49.6% female, mean 33.0 (SD=9.3) years old, and 44.7% Black/African American and 41.5% White, with 89.4% reporting no prior exposure to opioids. Within-subject sensitivity to opioids varied depending on the measure. One in five participants did not respond subjectively to the 4 mg hydromorphone dose based on their "Drug Effects" rating. Persons who were responsive showed more evidence of drug-dependent effects than did persons who were not responsive on ratings of Bad Effects (p= .03), feeling High (p= .01), Nausea (p= .03), pupil diameter (p< 0.01), and on the circular lights task (p< 0.001).
Conclusions
This study provides initial evidence that the experience of opioids may be domain specific. Data suggest potentially clinically meaningful differences exist regarding opioid response patterns, evident following one dose among opioid inexperienced individuals.
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