Low-dose memantine attenuated methadone dose in opioid-dependent patients: a 12-week double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

Low-dose memantine might have anti-inflammatory and neurotrophic effects mechanistically remote from an NMDA receptor. We investigated whether add-on memantine reduced cytokine levels and benefitted patients with opioid dependence undergoing methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) in a randomized, double-blind, controlled 12-week study. Patients were randomly assigned to a group: Memantine (5 mg/day) (n = 53) or Placebo (n = 75). The methadone dose required and retention in treatment were monitored. Plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were examined during weeks 0, 1, 4, 8, and 12. General linear mixed models were used to examine therapeutic effect. After 12 weeks, Memantine-group required a somewhat lower methadone dose than did Placebo-group (P = 0.039). They also had significantly lower plasma TNF-α and significantly higher TGF-β1 levels. We provide evidence of the benefit of add-on memantine in opioid dependent patients undergoing MMT.

• Authors: Sheng-Yu Lee, Shiou-Lan Chen, Yun-Hsuan Chang, Po See Chen, San-Yuan Huang, Nian-Sheng Tzeng, Liang-Jen Wang, I Hui Lee, Tzu-Yun Wang, Kao Chin Chen, Yen Kuang Yang, Jau-Shyong Hong, Ru-Band Lu
• Journal: Scientific reports (Sci Rep) Vol. 5 Pg. 10140 (May 19 2015) ISSN: 2045-2322 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25988317 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Opioid
• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
• CXCL8 protein, human
• Dopamine Agents
• IL6 protein, human
• Interleukin-6
• Interleukin-8
• Placebos
• TNF protein, human
• Transforming Growth Factor beta
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• BDNF protein, human
• C-Reactive Protein
• Methadone
• Memantine

Topics

• Analgesics, Opioid (therapeutic use)
• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (blood)
• C-Reactive Protein (metabolism)
• Dopamine Agents (therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Therapy, Combination (methods)
• Humans
• Interleukin-6 (blood)
• Interleukin-8 (blood)
• Memantine (therapeutic use)
• Methadone (therapeutic use)
• Opiate Substitution Treatment (methods)
• Opioid-Related Disorders (therapy)
• Placebos (therapeutic use)
• Transforming Growth Factor beta (blood)
• Treatment Outcome
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (blood)