Effect of acute methadone withdrawal on prostaglandin E-stimulated 3H-cyclic adenosine monophosphate accumulation in human platelets

Abstract

The effect of acute methadone withdrawal was studied on PGE1-sensitive platelet adenylate cyclase of 8 former heroin addicts who had been stabilized with methadone. During acute methadone withdrawal there was a significant increase in PGE1-sensitive platelet adenylate cyclase activity, which correlated with the severity of withdrawal symptoms. This suggests that PGE1-sensitive adenylate cyclase and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) are involved in the human addictive process.