buprenorphine and Hypogonadism

Methadone has been recognized as an effective maintenance treatment for opioid dependence. However, its use is associated with several complications, including sexual dysfunction in men.. To assess plasma testosterone and sexual function in Southeast Asian men on methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) or buprenorphine maintenance treatment (BMT).. 76 sexually active men on MMT (mean age = 43.30 ± 10.32 years) and 31 men on BMT (mean age = 41.87 ± 9.76 years) from a Southeast Asian community were evaluated using plasma total testosterone (TT) and prolactin levels, body mass index, social demographics, substance use measures, and depression severity scale.. Prevalence and associated factors of TT level lower than the reference range in men on MMT or BMT.. More than 1 third of men (40.8%, n = 31) on MMT had TT levels lower than the reference range, whereas 1 fourth of men (22.6%, n = 7) on BMT did. At univariate analysis, MMT vs BMT (β = 0.298, adjusted R. The sex hormonal assay should be used regularly to check men on MMT.. This is the first study conducted in the Southeast Asian community. Our study was limited by the lack of a healthy group as the reference for serum levels of testosterone and prolactin.. The findings showed that plasma testosterone levels are lower in MMT than in BMT users. Hence, men who are receiving MMT should be screened for hypogonadism routinely in the clinical setting. Yee A, Loh HS, Danaee M, et al. Plasma Testosterone and Sexual Function in Southeast Asian Men Receiving Methadone and Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment. J Sex Med 2018;15:159-166.

Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Buprenorphine; Depression; Female; Humans; Hypogonadism; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Opioid-Related Disorders; Prevalence; Prolactin; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Testosterone

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and investigate the aetiology of hypogonadism in men on methadone or buprenorphine maintenance treatment (MMT, BMT). 103 men (mean age 37.6 +/- 7.9) on MMT (n = 84) or BMT (n = 19) were evaluated using hormone assays, body mass index (BMI), serological, biochemical, demographic and substance use measures. Overall 54% of men (methadone 65%; buprenorphine 28%) had total testosterone (TT) <12.0 nm; 34% (methadone 39%; buprenorphine 11%) had TT <8.0 nm. Both methadone- and buprenorphine-treated men had lower free testosterone, luteinising hormone and estradiol than age-matched reference groups. Methadone-treated men had lower TT than buprenorphine-treated men and reference groups. Prolactin did not differ between methadone, buprenorphine groups, and reference groups. Primary testicular failure was an uncommon cause of hypogonadism. Yearly percentage fall in TT by age across the patient group was 2.3%, more than twice that expected normally. There were no associations between TT and opioid dose, cannabis, alcohol and tobacco consumption, or chronic hepatitis C viraemia. On multiple regression higher TT was associated with higher alanine aminotransferase and lower TT with higher BMI. Men on MMT have high prevalence of hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. The extent of hormonal changes associated with buprenorphine needs to be explored further in larger studies. Men receiving long term opioid replacement treatment, especially methadone treatment, should be screened for hypogonadism. Wide interindividual differences in methadone metabolism and tolerance may in a cross-sectional study obscure a methadone dose relationship to testosterone in individuals. Future studies of hypogonadism in opioid-treated men should examine the potential benefits of dose reduction, choice of opioid medication, weight loss, and androgen replacement.

Topics: Adult; Alcoholism; Buprenorphine; Humans; Hypogonadism; Male; Methadone; Narcotics; Prevalence; Substance-Related Disorders; Testosterone

While morphine remains one of the most widely used opioids for the treatment of painful conditions, other opioids are also commonly employed. Because of the interactions between opioids and gonadal hormones, in particular opioid-induced hypogonadism, this study investigated the effects of widely used opioids on plasma testosterone and estradiol levels and brain testosterone levels in male rats. Animals were s.c. injected with two concentrations of morphine (5 or 10 mg/kg), fentanyl (0.05 or 0.1 mg/kg), tramadol (10 or 40 mg/kg), buprenorphine (0.05 or 0.1 mg/kg) or saline (0.7 ml/kg). Four or 24 h after treatment, the rats were deeply anesthetized to collect blood samples from the abdominal aorta and to perfuse the brains with saline. Plasma and brain hormone levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. In rats studied 4 h after treatment, all the opioids except tramadol 10 mg/kg decreased plasma testosterone in comparison with saline administration. At the same time, plasma estradiol levels were lower than control in the groups treated with the low doses of morphine, tramadol and buprenorphine, while estradiol remained at control levels in the other groups. Twenty-four hours after treatment, plasma testosterone levels were different (higher) than control in the animals treated with the low doses of morphine, fentanyl and buprenorphine. Estradiol was lower than control in the low dose groups, while the high doses did not produce any changes with respect to control. Four hours after treatment, brain testosterone was drastically decreased in all groups except buprenorphine, in which it remained at control levels. All groups returned to control levels at 24 h after treatment. In conclusion, opioids exert important effects on plasma and CNS sex hormone levels. The different magnitude and time-course of the effects of the different opiates on testosterone and estradiol levels are likely due to their different mechanism of action.

Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Brain; Brain Chemistry; Buprenorphine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Down-Regulation; Estradiol; Fentanyl; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Hypogonadism; Male; Morphine; Neurosecretory Systems; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Testis; Testosterone; Tramadol