Ritanserin, a new therapeutic approach for drug abuse. Part 3: Effects on fentanyl and sucrose

✍ Scribed by T. F. Meert; P. A. J. Janssen

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1992
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 709 KB
• Volume: 25
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0272-4391
• DOI: 10.1002/ddr.430250106

✦ Synopsis

Rats given the choice between fentanyl and water will develop a preference for fentanyl after a first period of exposure to fentanyl alone. Chronic treatment with the 5-HT2 antagonist ritanserin reduced the fentanyl intake and fentanyl preference. The effects of ritanserin were present from the first day and activity started at doses 20.04 mg/kg when given subcutaneously once daily. At 2.5 mg/kg ritanserin, the highest dose tested, fentanyl intake and fentanyl preference was reduced by 50 and 33%, respectively. The reductions in fentanyl intake were compensated by an increase in water drinking. At no time was there a systematic interference of ritanserin with consumatory physiological processes nor did ritanserin create aversion for fentanyl. Furthermore, ritanserin did not interact with the discriminative stimulus properties of fentanyl. In a similar experiment and in contrast to its activity on fentanyl intake, ritanserin was unable to reduce sucrose intake and sucrose preference. These results are discussed in terms of a global and specific mechanism of action of ritanserin on the need for drug reinforcement after chronic exposure to drugs of abuse.