Patterns of response to acute naloxone infusion in Tourette's syndrome

Mov Disord. 2000 Nov;15(6):1252-4. doi: 10.1002/1531-8257(200011)15:6<1252::aid-mds1030>3.0.co;2-i.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to replicate findings from an earlier pilot study in which we found a dose-related effect of the opioid antagonist naloxone on tic behavior in patients with Tourette's syndrome (TS). Fifteen subjects with TS were challenged with randomized doses (30 and 300 microg/kg) of naloxone at 3-day intervals. Videotaped recordings of tic behavior were counted in a "blind" fashion. We found that naloxone had opposite effects on tics at different dosages. The low dose caused a significant decrease in tics, whereas the high dose caused a significant increase in tics. Therefore, activity at opioid receptors appears to influence the expression of TS, and the difference in response to naloxone in TS subjects may be based on a dose-response effect.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Naloxone / administration & dosage
  • Naloxone / pharmacology*
  • Naloxone / therapeutic use
  • Narcotic Antagonists / administration & dosage
  • Narcotic Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Narcotic Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Receptors, Opioid / drug effects*
  • Tic Disorders / drug therapy
  • Tourette Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • Receptors, Opioid
  • Naloxone