The effects of oxytocin on withdrawal, craving and stress response in heroin-dependent patients: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial
Abstract
Opioid dependence is an increasing clinical and public health problem. Current pharmacotherapies have limited efficacy and cause serious side effects. Increasing bodies of evidences suggest the neuropeptide, oxytocin (OT), as a potential treatment for drug abuse disorders. The current study was designed to evaluate the effect of OT on withdrawal, craving and anxiety scores, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) blood level in heroin-dependent male patients. This randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 58 males with opioid dependence by Abstinence Center of Addictive People in Iran. The participants were randomly allocated to receive intranasal OT (single dose; 40 IU, n = 29) or placebo (n = 29). Heroine withdrawal, craving and anxiety scores were measured using the Opioid Withdrawal Scale, Visual Analogue Scale and (Desire for Drug Questionnaire), and Hamilton checklist respectively. The cortisol and DHEAS levels at baseline and different post-intervention time were measured using a competitive immunoanalysis method. Acute OT administration reduced craving and withdrawal scores but did not change anxiety significantly. Single dose of OT decreased the level of cortisol and improved the cortisol/DHEAS ratio in the heroin users during abstinence (p < 0.01). These results suggest that OT may be useful in the attenuation of craving, withdrawal symptom in heroin-dependent patients and might be considered a new potential treatment for heroin dependence where positive effects of OT on stress-related hormones may be involved in this effect of OT.
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A randomized, double-blind clinical trial in heroin-dependent subjects showed that acute oxytocin treatment reduced craving and withdrawal scores, without a significant effect on anxiety.
“A randomized, double-blind clinical trial in heroin-dependent subjects showed that acute oxytocin treatment reduced craving and withdrawal scores, without, however, a significant effect on anxiety (201).”
From Exogenous Opioids and the Human Endocrine System: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement (2024) · cites this paper as [201]
In heroin users during abstinence in a double-blind placebo-controlled study, acute intranasal oxytocin administration reduces craving and withdrawal scores and decreases cortisol levels but does not significantly change anxiety.
“In heroin users during abstinence in a double-blind placebocontrolled study, acute intranasal oxytocin administration reduced craving and withdrawal scores and decreased cortisol levels but did not significantly change anxiety (Moeini et al., 2019).”
From Drug Addiction: Hyperkatifeia/Negative Reinforcement as a Framework for Medications Development (2021) · cites this paper as Moeini et al., 2019
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- Authors
- Moeini, M., Omidi, A., Sehat, M., & Banafshe, H. R.
- Affiliations
- Kashan University of Medical Sciences (IR)
- Corresponding author
- Banafshe, Hamid Reza
- Venue
- European Addiction Research
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG
- Published
- 2019
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 41-47
- ISSN
- 1022-6877 (ISSN-L)
- 1421-9891
- OpenAlex
- W2909404655
- Semantic Scholar
- 17d4f5bbe21d5506fd321748d6ed2125ca33211e
- Cited by
- 52
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 4
- FWCI
- 6.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Addiction Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Keywords
- oxytocin, heroin addiction, opioid withdrawal, drug craving, anxiety, cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, stress response, intranasal administration, opioid use disorder treatment
- MeSH terms
- Administration, Intranasal, Adult, Anxiety, Double-Blind Method, Heroin Dependence, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Oxytocin, Stress, Psychological, Substance Withdrawal Syndrome, Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate, Young Adult, Craving
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