Effects of anaesthetic agents in interference of naloxone-induced opiate-withdrawal are dose-dependent in opiate-dependent rats.

In opiate-dependent rats previous studies showed that anaesthetic agents, such as chloral hydrate, midazolam and ketamine interfere with naloxone-precipitated opiate withdrawal. Each anaesthetic induces a specific pattern of interference, indicating that the interference is agent-dependent. In order to further investigate these effects and highlight a potential pharmacological basis of opiate withdrawal interference through anaesthetic agents, we hypothesized that anaesthetic-mediated interference of opiate withdrawal is also dose-dependent.