Abstract
Buprenorphine and methadone are two substances widely used in the substitution treatment of patients who are addicted to opioids. Although it is known that they partly act efficiently towards this direction, there is no evidence regarding their effects on the redox status of patients, a mechanism that could potentially improve their action. Therefore, the aim of the present investigation was to examine the impact of buprenorphine and methadone, which are administered as substitutes to heroin-dependent patients on specific redox biomarkers in the blood. From the results obtained, both the buprenorphine (n = 21) and the methadone (n = 21) groups exhibited oxidative stress and compromised antioxidant defence. This was evident by the decreased glutathione (GSH) concentration and catalase activity in erythrocytes and the increased concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and protein carbonyls in the plasma, while there was no significant alteration of plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) compared to the healthy individuals (n = 29). Furthermore, methadone revealed more severe oxidant action compared to buprenorphine. Based on relevant studies, the tested substitutes mitigate the detrimental effects of heroin on patient redox status; still it appears that they need to be boosted. Therefore, concomitant antioxidant administration could potentially enhance their beneficial action, and most probably, buprenorphine that did not induce oxidative stress in such a severe mode as methadone, on the regulation of blood redox status.
Highlights
IntroductionIt is indicative that mortality rates due to the increasing prevalence of opioid use have risen approaching an epidemic scale in some countries [1]
Drug addiction is a serious health problem that modern society has to face
They were randomly divided into two groups, namely, the observation group (n = 42), which includes patients being under opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) in the therapeutic units of Attica Organization Against Drugs in Greece, and the control group (n = 29) comprising healthy individuals without prior contact with substances able to induce addiction
Summary
It is indicative that mortality rates due to the increasing prevalence of opioid use have risen approaching an epidemic scale in some countries [1]. It has been reported that in the European Union, opioids are the main substances of use (i.e., 38% of all cases), whereas heroin comprises the 79% of them. There is a serious issue of this kind in North America since there has been observed enhanced morbidity and mortality associated with the abuse of prescription opioids, heroin, and lately, the use of high-potency synthetic opioids, especially fentanyl derivatives [2]. Opioids in general have twofold inhibitory action. They act both at the presynaptic nerve terminal by inhibiting neurotransmitter release and at the postsynaptic neuron
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
