Abstract
Acute aerobic exercise has been shown to reduce craving for cigarettes in smokers. Over 80% of patients enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programs for opiate addiction are smokers and 29% suffer from diabetes. Many MMT counselors believe that regular physical exercise helps their patients to be successful in the program; however, there have been no previous studies demonstrating that increased physical activity positively impacts MMT patients. Purpose: To determine if acute aerobic exercise changes opiate and cigarette craving in MMT patients. Methods: 9 MMT patients (Age = 45±2 years; BMI=27.5±1.9) completed 3 randomly applied experimental trials immedi- ately before receiving their daily methadone dose. The experimental trials consisted of 20 minutes of rest, moderate exer- cise (65% predicted maximal heart rate), or vigorous exercise (80% predicted maximal heart rate). Craving for opiates, cigarettes, and sweets was recorded before, immediately after (IPE), and 10 minute after exercise (10 Post). Subjects also completed the Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS) before and 10 minutes after exercise. Results: Craving for opiates was reduced (p<0.05) as a result of vigorous exercise at IPE (-26.8+6.9%) and 10 Post (-5.5+0.5%); however, craving for opiates was unchanged following moderate exercise. Craving for cigarettes was reduced (p<0.05) following both moderate (IPE=-37.9+6.1%; 10 Post=-13.1+9.1%) and vigorous (IPE=-37.1 +7.1%; 10 Post=-8.8+9.2% exercise. Craving for sweets and the SOWS was unchanged as a result of exercise. Conclusion: The results of this investigation suggest that craving for opiates and cigarettes in patients participating in a MMT program may be influenced acute aerobic exercise.
Highlights
In the United States and Europe, 1-2 % of adults report using heroin or other opiates during their lifetime [1]
Craving for sweets and the Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS) was unchanged as a result of exercise
Craving for opiates and cigarettes was impacted by exercise conditions
Summary
In the United States and Europe, 1-2 % of adults report using heroin or other opiates (oxycontin, dilaudid, and hydrocodone) during their lifetime [1]. It is estimated that 1 in 4 people who use opiates become dependent [2]. People may use opiates for decades interspersed by periods of abstinence, treatment, and incarceration [3]. Oral methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is one of the most common ways to treat opiate addiction. Once enrolled in a MMT program, patients typically receive treatment for at least a year and may receive treatment for years or decades [4]. Regular aerobic exercise has been theorized to be beneficial in the treatment for addiction because of its potential ability to attenuate the physiological responses to stress experienced during withdrawal and positive impact on depression and mood [5,6]
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