Acetaminophen modulation of hydrocodone reward in rats.

Abuse of prescription opioid analgesics in non-medical context has been on the rise over the past decade. The most commonly abused analgesic in this drug class consists of a combined formulation of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. The present study was aimed to determine the rewarding effects of hydrocodone, acetaminophen, and their combination using the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. Using a 6-day CPP paradigm, rats were paired with hydrocodone (0.5, 1.0 or 5.0 mg/kg) or acetaminophen (50, 100 or 300 mg/kg) to determine whether the drugs given alone would produce a CPP. Rats conditioned with the highest dose of hydrocodone exhibited place preference, whereas rats conditioned with acetaminophen did not demonstrate place preference. In a second experiment, varying doses of hydrocodone and acetaminophen were combined to determine whether acetaminophen would enhance hydrocodone reward. Acetaminophen (100 mg/kg) enhanced the rewarding effects of hydrocodone (1mg/kg), although the effect was unique to this particular dose combination. Higher or lower doses of acetaminophen combined with hydrocodone did not alter hydrocodone CPP. The present findings suggest that acetaminophen has a limited potential of modulating the rewarding properties of hydrocodone in rats.

6beta-naltrexol preferentially antagonizes opioid effects on gastrointestinal transit compared to antinociception in mice.

AIMS: The current studies were designed to compare the in vivo potencies of the opioid antagonists 6beta-naltrexol and naltrexone in blocking the effects of the opioid agonist hydrocodone following intravenous (i.v.) or oral (p.o.) administration. MAIN METHODS: Adult male CD-1 mice were used for all experiments. The 55 degrees C tail-flick assay was used to assess the CNS antinociceptive activity of hydrocodone, and a charcoal meal gastrointestinal transit assay was used to assess the peripheral effects of hydrocodone. Graded antagonist dose-response curves for i.v. and p.o. 6beta-naltrexol and naltrexone were generated to determine ID(50) antagonist potency estimates against fixed doses of hydrocodone. KEY FINDINGS: Both antagonists produced dose-related blockade of hydrocodone-induced antinociception and inhibition of gastrointestinal transit. Naltrexone was between 5- and 13-fold more potent than 6beta-naltrexol in blocking a CNS effect of hydrocodone, whereas the drugs were nearly equipotent in blocking inhibition of gastrointestinal transit. Co-administration studies indicated an approximate 10-fold greater potency of 6beta-naltrexol for antagonism of hydrocodone-induced inhibition of gastrointestinal transit versus antinociception, whereas naltrexone blocked both effects with near equal potency. 6beta-naltrexol produced a longer duration of antagonist blockade and had a slower time to peak effect compared to naltrexone. SIGNIFICANCE: The pharmacology of 6beta-naltrexol differentiates it from currently available opioid antagonists. This includes an intermediate selectivity for peripheral versus central opioid receptors, a long duration of action, and neutral antagonist qualities in opioid exposed systems. These properties render it a drug candidate for a co-formulation product with opioid analgesics to reduce peripheral opioid side effects and limit abuse potential.