Modulation of the stimulus effects of morphine by d-amphetamine

Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1998 Jan;59(1):249-53. doi: 10.1016/s0091-3057(97)00371-7.

Abstract

The stimulus effects of morphine and d-amphetamine coadministration were studied in rats. Place conditioning, drug discrimination, and taste conditioning were employed to assess the rewarding, discriminative, and aversive stimulus properties of both drugs. d-Amphetamine increased the rewarding and morphine-like discriminative stimulus effects of 1.25 mg/kg morphine. d-Amphetamine did not, however, change the aversive effects of 1.25 mg/kg morphine, or any effect of higher (5-20 mg/kg) morphine doses. Because the rewarding/discriminative properties and the aversive properties of a drug are considered the main attributes that regulate (facilitate and weaken, respectively) drug-seeking behavior, the present data are in keeping with clinical reports indicating that amphetamines are sometimes used by opiate abusers in an attempt to increase the effect obtained from poor-quality heroin.

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Avoidance Learning / drug effects
  • Conditioning, Operant / drug effects
  • Dextroamphetamine / pharmacology*
  • Discrimination Learning / drug effects
  • Dopamine Agents / pharmacology*
  • Drug Interactions
  • Learning / drug effects*
  • Male
  • Morphine / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Reward*
  • Stimulation, Chemical

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Dopamine Agents
  • Morphine
  • Dextroamphetamine