Opiates are narcotic drugs that exert their main effects on the brain and spinal cord. By binding and stimulating endorphin receptors in the brain, opiates such as morphine and heroin block the transmission of pain messages to the brain, thus relieving or suppressing pain. Drugs such as methadone, buprenorphine and levo-alpha acetyl methadol help to relieve the withdrawal symptoms associated with a reduction in the intake of opiate drugs.
Methadone
Methadone is synthetic opiate administered at clinics as a substitute for heroin. Methadone is taken orally once a day and is effective in eliminating withdrawal symptoms associated with opiate drugs. Methadone occupies excess opioid receptors in the brain, thus reducing the craving associated with heroin addiction, notes the the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Furthermore, methadone blocks the euphoric rush experienced with heroin; thus, individuals do not experience the highs and lows as well as the disruptive behavior associated with heroin addiction. Methadone is a long-acting drug and, if taken once a day at dosage of 30 to 40 mg, its effects are exerted for up to 36 hours.
Buprenorphine
According to the National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment, buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, meaning it can bind and stimulate opioid receptors to produce typical opioid effects such as euphoria and respiratory depression; however, its effects are minimal compared to full agonists like heroin and methadone. At low doses, buprenorphine produces sufficient agonist effects that reduce the withdrawal symptoms associated with opiate addiction and thus it may be substituted for an individual's previous opiate drug of choice. At high doses, buprenorphine's antagonist properties can cause a physical withdrawal in individuals addicted to other illicit opioids. This occurs when buprenorphine displaces full agonist opioids such as heroin and methadone but is unable to activate those receptors to the same degree; thus, there is a significant decrease in its agonist effects and symptoms of withdrawal begin. Buprenorphine is a fast-acting drug that is administered three times a week in a clinical setting and often eliminates the painful side effects of opiate withdrawal within an hour.
Levo-Alpha Acetyl Methadol
Levo-alpha acetyl methadol, or LAAM, is a synthetic opiate approved in 1993 by the FDA as a treatment option for opiate withdrawal. According to the National Library of Medicine, LAAM is a Schedule II controlled substance and it occupies opiate receptors in the brain thus blocking access to these receptors by other opiates such as heroin and morphine. By stimulating these receptors, LAAM produces a cross tolerance to the subjective high produced by illicit opiates and thus suppresses opiate withdrawal symptoms. LAAM is administered three times a week and effectively decreases opiate withdrawal symptoms for at least 24 hours.
