Methadone induces testosterone suppression in patients with opioid addiction

Affiliations

¹ 1] MiNDS Neuroscience Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON [2] Population Genomics Program, Chanchlani Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
² 1] Population Genomics Program, Chanchlani Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON [2] Health Research Methodology Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON [3] Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
³ Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
⁴ Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres, Ontario, Canada.
⁵ 1] Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres, Ontario, Canada [2] Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
⁶ 1] Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres, Ontario, Canada [2] Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON.
⁷ Population Genomics Program, Chanchlani Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
⁸ 1] Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON [2] Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON [3] Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
⁹ 1] Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON [2] Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
¹⁰ Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON.
¹¹ 1] Population Genomics Program, Chanchlani Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON [2] Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
¹² 1] Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON [2] Biostatistics Unit, Centre for Evaluation of Medicine, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
¹³ 1] Population Genomics Program, Chanchlani Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON [2] Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON [3] Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.

PMID: 25155550
PMCID: PMC4143768
DOI: 10.1038/srep06189

Methadone induces testosterone suppression in patients with opioid addiction

Monica Bawor et al. Sci Rep. 2014.

. 2014 Aug 26:4:6189.

doi: 10.1038/srep06189.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ 1] MiNDS Neuroscience Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON [2] Population Genomics Program, Chanchlani Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
² 1] Population Genomics Program, Chanchlani Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON [2] Health Research Methodology Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON [3] Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
³ Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
⁴ Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres, Ontario, Canada.
⁵ 1] Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres, Ontario, Canada [2] Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
⁶ 1] Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres, Ontario, Canada [2] Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON.
⁷ Population Genomics Program, Chanchlani Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
⁸ 1] Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON [2] Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON [3] Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
⁹ 1] Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON [2] Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
¹⁰ Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON.
¹¹ 1] Population Genomics Program, Chanchlani Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON [2] Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
¹² 1] Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON [2] Biostatistics Unit, Centre for Evaluation of Medicine, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
¹³ 1] Population Genomics Program, Chanchlani Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON [2] Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON [3] Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.

PMID: 25155550
PMCID: PMC4143768
DOI: 10.1038/srep06189

Abstract

Sex hormones may have a role in the pathophysiology of substance use disorders, as demonstrated by the association between testosterone and addictive behaviour in opioid dependence. Although opioid use has been found to suppress testosterone levels in men and women, the extent of this effect and how it relates to methadone treatment for opioid dependence is unclear. The present multi-centre cross-sectional study consecutively recruited 231 patients with opioid dependence from methadone clinics across Ontario, Canada between June and December of 2011. We obtained demographic details, substance use, psychiatric history, and blood and urine samples from enrolled subjects. The control group included 783 non-opioid using adults recruited from a primary care setting in Ontario, Canada. Average testosterone level in men receiving methadone treatment was significantly lower than controls. No effect of opioids including methadone on testosterone level in women was found and testosterone did not fluctuate significantly between menstrual cycle phases. In methadone patients, testosterone level was significantly associated with methadone dose in men only. We recommend that testosterone levels be checked in men prior and during methadone and other opioid therapy, in order to detect and treat testosterone deficiency associated with opioids and lead to successful methadone treatment outcomes.

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Figures

**Figure 1. Flow diagram for participants included in study.**
Description: Flow of participants throughout each stage of the study and reasons for exclusion.

**Figure 2. Methadone dose and serum total testosterone level in men.**
Description: Inverse linear relationship between serum total testosterone level and methadone dose in men on methadone treatment (n = 131).

**Figure 3. Testosterone level across menstrual cycle phases in control women.**
Description: Testosterone level shows consistency across follicular and luteal cycle phases, as well as throughout menopause.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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1. Maremmani I. et al. Differential substance abuse patterns distribute according to gender in heroin addicts. J Psychoactive Drugs 42, 89–95 (2010). - PubMed

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Methadone induces testosterone suppression in patients with opioid addiction

Affiliations

Methadone induces testosterone suppression in patients with opioid addiction

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Figures

References

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Other Literature Sources

Medical