The invention relates to the use of naltrexone and naloxone analogs, which are neutral antagonists at the &mgr; opioid receptor, for the treatment of drug dependency in a drug-dependent individual. Surprisingly, it has been found that administration of a therapeutically effect amount of the naloxone or naltrexone analogs described herein for the treatment of a drug dependency, can result in reduction of undesirable side effects resulting from current treatments using naloxone and naltrexone. For example, the treatment described herein can result in a reduction in the withdrawal symptoms and aversion encountered in the use of naloxone and naltrexone in the treatment of drug dependency. In addition, the naltrexone and naloxone analogs of the invention can be used for the treatment of pain in an individual in need thereof by modulating opoid pain treatment using neutral antagonists, for example, reversing respiratory depression withough causing other adverse effects. In addition, during chronic use of opioid drugs for pain therapy, neutral antagonists can be used to diminish constipation peripherally without effecting the central analgesic effects.
本发明涉及
纳曲酮和纳洛
酮类似物的用途,它们是&mgr;阿片受体的中性拮抗剂,用于治疗药物依赖者的药物依赖性。令人惊奇的是,研究发现,在治疗药物依赖性时,施用一定治疗效果量的本文所述
纳洛酮或纳曲
酮类似物,可以减少目前使用
纳洛酮和
纳曲酮治疗所产生的不良副作用。例如,本文所述的治疗方法可以减少在使用
纳洛酮和
纳曲酮治疗药物依赖性时遇到的戒断症状和厌恶感。此外,本发明的
纳曲酮和纳洛
酮类似物可通过使用中性拮抗剂调节阿片类疼痛治疗,例如逆转呼吸抑制而不引起其他不良反应,从而用于治疗有需要的人的疼痛。此外,在长期使用阿片类药物治疗疼痛期间,中性拮抗剂可用于减轻外周性便秘,而不会影响中枢镇痛效果。