The opioid peptide analogue biphalin induces less physical dependence than morphine.

Abstract

We compared the physical dependence liability of biphalin, a dimeric enkephalin analogue that possesses high antinociceptive activity, with that of morphine in equipotent intravenous doses. Naloxone challenge produced severe withdrawal signs after a 5-day infusion of morphine but only minor withdrawal signs after a 5-day biphalin infusion. In a cross-dependence study, biphalin did not suppress body weight loss after morphine withdrawal, but successfully suppressed weight loss after pentazocine withdrawal. These data support consideration of biphalin as a new analgesic with a novel pharmacological profile and minimum dependence liability.

• Authors: M Yamazaki, T Suzuki, M Narita, A W Lipkowski
• Journal: Life sciences (Life Sci) Vol. 69 Issue 9 Pg. 1023-8 (Jul 20 2001) ISSN: 0024-3205 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 11508644 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Opioid
• Enkephalins
• Naloxone
• Morphine
• biphalin
• Pentazocine

Topics

• Analgesics, Opioid (administration & dosage)
• Animals
• Behavior, Animal (drug effects)
• Enkephalins (administration & dosage)
• Infusions, Intravenous
• Male
• Morphine (administration & dosage)
• Morphine Dependence (etiology)
• Naloxone (pharmacology)
• Pentazocine (pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Substance-Related Disorders (etiology)
• Weight Loss (drug effects)