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Effects of methadone and morphine maintenance on drug-seeking behavior in the dog

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Abstract

The effects of methadone and morphine maintenance on morphine self-administration were studied in the dog. Methadone was given passively for 2 weeks by continuous i.v. infusion. The amount of methadone administered daily was the same in mg/kg as the mean daily mg/kg of morphine the dogs had self-administered during the premaintenance control week. Morphine self-administration was markedly reduced initially but returned to normal levels within 2 weeks of methadone administration. Following the methadone maintenance period, morphine self-administration was increased over the premaintenance period for 2 weeks. A result similar to that with methadone was obtained in a second experiment when morphine was used as the maintenance drug in an amount that was three times the amount the dogs had been self-administering during the premaintenance control week.

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A division of the US Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Public Health Service, Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Administration

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Jones, B.E., Prada, J.A. Effects of methadone and morphine maintenance on drug-seeking behavior in the dog. Psychopharmacology 54, 109–112 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00426764

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00426764

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