Method of treating drug addiction using dextro-morphine
The present invention relates a method of treating drug addiction in an individual by administering to the addicted individual a therapeutically effective amount of dextro-morphine capable of activating an opioid receptor. It is disclosed here that dextro-morphine is suitable for treating addiction to natural opiates, semi-synthetic opiates, fully synthetic opioids, and endogenous opioid peptides, as well as nicotine.
1. A method of treating addiction in an individual comprising the step of administering to the addicted individual a therapeutically effective amount of pharmacologically active compound comprising dextro-morphine, which is capable of activating a sigma receptor, wherein the addiction is to an opioid.
2. The method in claim 1 , wherein the opioid is an opiate.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the opioid comprises a natural opiate, a semi-synthetic opiate, a fully synthetic opioid, an endogenous opioid peptide, or a combination thereof.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the natural opiate is selected from a member of the group consisting of opium alkaloids, (−)-morphine, opium, and codeine.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the semi-synthetic opiate is selected from a member of the group consisting of hydromorphone, hydrocodone, oxycodone, and heroin.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the fully synthetic opiod is selected from a member of the group consisting of fentanyl, pethidine, methadone, and propoxyphene.
7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the endogenous opioid peptide is selected from a member of the group consisting of endorphins, enkephalins, dynorphins, and endomorphins.
8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the opiate is (−)-morphine.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the individual is a mammal.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the individual is a human.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the route of administration is selected from the group consisting of oral, intraperitoneal, parenteral, intravenous, intrathecal, and transdermal.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dextro-morphine is administered to the individual prior to, simultaneously with or subsequent to taking the addictive opioid.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dextro-morphine is administered by pulse-dosing, wherein the pulse-dosing is repeated as needed in a human.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the human is pretreated with an effective dose of dextro-morphine, wherein the pretreatment dosage ranges from about 1 μg/kg to about 5 μg/kg given subcutaneously.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the human is pretreated with an effective dose of dextro-morphine, wherein the pretreatment dosage ranges from about 0.2 μg/kg to about 1 μg/kg given intraveneously.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the human is pretreated with an effective dose of dextro-morphine, wherein the pretreatment dosage ranges from about 5 μg/kg to about 25 μg/kg given orally.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the human is pretreated with an effective dose of dextro-morphine, wherein the pretreatment dosage ranges from about 1.0 μg/kg to about 5 μg/kg given intraperitoneally.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dextro-morphine is administered as a single or multiple dose daily of about 0.5 mg to about 5 mg in a human.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the pretreatment dosage is implanted into the human.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the pretreatment dosage is injected into the human.
21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the pretreatment dosage is ingested by the human.