Cumulative and booster effects of tdcs sessions on drug cravings, lapse, and cognitive impairment in methamphetamine use disorder: A case study report

Background and Objectives Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation method, which shows promising therapeutic effects in controlling drug cravings. Methods In this study, we present cumulative and booster effects of tDCS sessions on methamphetamine cravings, lapse, and cognitive impairment in a methamphetamine dependent subject. Results Our study shows cumulative effects of continuous anodal tDCS sessions on right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) could reduce drug cravings and their consequences. Discussion and Conclusions Moreover, booster tDCS treatments might be helpful in controlling psychological stress and drug cravings. (Am J Addict 2016;25:264-266) © 2016 American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry

Low-dose methamphetamine addiction induced opioid receptor sensitization in polydrug-dependent mice

Polydrug dependence shows an increasing trend in prevalence among addicts. It is a result of an addict abusing another drug to mask the undesirable effects of another drug. However, this could lead to adverse neuroadaptations. Therefore, we aim to investigate the effects of low-dose methamphetamine use in morphine-dependent subjects during reinstatement following treatment (0.3 mg/kg buprenorphine / 1.0 mg/kg naltrexone combination) in mice. Using tail-withdrawal assay, the involvement of opioid receptors was investigated at 1.0-5.0 mg/kg methamphetamine, i.p. at 52°C. The results showed that analgesic activity was only detected at the highest dose given which was successfully blocked with 1.0 mg/kg naltrexone, i.p. (p45°) which was not detected in the morphine-, methamphetamine-dependent groups and during pre-screening of treatment drug. This suggest that although methamphetamine has little apparent withdrawal symptoms, it has the ability to sensitize the opioid receptors even at 'inactive' dose when it is used concurrently with morphine