A study published in the August 26, 2014, journal
Scientific Reports has shown that methadone,
a widely used analgesic for opioid addiction treatment, has a dose-dependent
suppressive effect on testosterone levels in men. For women participants, no
significant correlation between methadone use and testosterone levels was
discovered. The study’s authors recommend that testosterone levels of men
undergoing opioid therapy be checked at regular intervals in order to treat
possible testosterone deficiency (
Methadone
induces testosterone suppression in patients with opioid addiction).
For the study, testosterone levels of 131 men and 100 women
who were undergoing methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) for the management of
opioid addiction were compared to control participants who were not using
opioids. The study found that men with opioid dependence undergoing MMT had on
average three times less the levels of testosterone than men in the control
group. The average levels of testosterone for women undergoing MMT did not
significantly differ from controls. The study also revealed a positive
association between serum testosterone levels in men and the number of
cigarettes smoked daily.
The study concluded that investigation into sex hormones
other than testosterone may provide greater insight into the biological effects
of methadone and its possible influence on female hormone levels. They speculate
that levels of the female hormone β-Estradiol, the primary sex hormone in
women, may be affected by opioid treatment. The authors note that future
studies may include the effect of testosterone therapy on risk of relapse and
methadone maintenance therapy outcomes.
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ISO
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Cerilliant Certified Spiking Solutions® of Opioids