Memantine-enhanced Buprenorphine Treatment for Opioid-dependent Young Adults

Memantine-enhanced Buprenorphine Treatment for Opioid-dependent Young Adults

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of memantine and buprenorphine on opioid abusing behavior, to determine the effect of memantine and buprenorphine on early relapse and to evaluate the tolerability of memantine co-administrated with buprenorphine. The study seeks to determine if combined treatment of memantine and buprenorphine may provide shorter-term treatment for opioid dependence.

Opiate dependence is an increasing problem among young adults (18-25 years old) whose rates of current use of illicit drugs are generally high (19.7 %)according to data from the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use & Health (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 2008). Young adults start using heroin around this age range, and more recently have had increasing rates of prescription-type drug use. Given that young adults with opiate dependence who are seeking treatment are relatively treatment naïve, have a shorter period of addiction, and are more likely to choose buprenorphine over methadone, developing short-term buprenorphine treatment alternatives to long-term methadone agonist treatment is needed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men and women between 18-25 years old
• Opioid dependence as evidenced by signs of opiate withdrawal, self-reported history of opioid dependence for a consecutive 12 month period and positive urine for opioids

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current diagnosis of other drug or alcohol dependence (other than opiates, cannabis or tobacco)
• Serious medical illness (e.g. major cardiovascular, renal, endocrine, hepatic disorder)
• Current serious psychiatric illness or history of psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar type I disorder and participants with suicidal or homicidal thoughts
• Women who are pregnant, nursing or refuse to use a reliable form of birth control or refuse monthly pregnancy testing
• Screening liver function tests (SGOT or SGPT) greater than 3 times normal