Abstract
Rationale: Benzodiazepines are among the most frequently prescribed drugs and are usually taken by mouth. However, there have been few studies of oral self-administration of these drugs, and the results of IV self-administration studies indicate that benzodiazepines are modest reinforcers. Objectives: To determine if orally delivered alprazolam, diazepam, and triazolam could serve as reinforcers for rhesus monkeys, and to determine some of the conditions under which benzodiazepine reinforced behavior occurs. Methods: Diazepam or midazolam was initially established as a reinforcer by a fading procedure whereby increasing concentrations were added to a 1 or 2% ethanol solution, and subsequently the ethanol concentration was decreased in steps to zero. Diazepam- and midazolam-reinforced responding persisted in the absence of ethanol. Triazolam and alprazolam served as reinforcers when substituted for diazepam or midazolam. Results: Alprazolam, diazepam, and triazolam served as effective reinforcers across a wide range of concentrations and under fixed-ratio sizes of 16 and 32. Rates of responding were usually far higher than that for the concurrently available vehicle, water. Drug intake (mg drug/kg body weight) generally increased with increases in drug concentration. When large drug amounts were consumed, signs of intoxication were observed. Conclusions: In contrast to reports of low response rates and weakly maintained behavior, the present results show that the three benzodiazepines can serve as effective reinforcers.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 86-94 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Psychopharmacology |
| Volume | 161 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2002 |
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Keywords
- Acquisition
- Alprazolam
- Benzodiazepine
- Diazepam
- Drug reinforcement
- Oral route
- Rhesus monkey
- Self-administration
- Triazolam
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
Cite this
Orally delivered alprazolam, diazepam, and triazolam as reinforcers in rhesus monkeys. / Gomez, T.; Roache, John D; Meisch, R.
In: Psychopharmacology, Vol. 161, No. 1, 2002, p. 86-94.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Orally delivered alprazolam, diazepam, and triazolam as reinforcers in rhesus monkeys
AU - Gomez, T.
AU - Roache, John D
AU - Meisch, R.
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Rationale: Benzodiazepines are among the most frequently prescribed drugs and are usually taken by mouth. However, there have been few studies of oral self-administration of these drugs, and the results of IV self-administration studies indicate that benzodiazepines are modest reinforcers. Objectives: To determine if orally delivered alprazolam, diazepam, and triazolam could serve as reinforcers for rhesus monkeys, and to determine some of the conditions under which benzodiazepine reinforced behavior occurs. Methods: Diazepam or midazolam was initially established as a reinforcer by a fading procedure whereby increasing concentrations were added to a 1 or 2% ethanol solution, and subsequently the ethanol concentration was decreased in steps to zero. Diazepam- and midazolam-reinforced responding persisted in the absence of ethanol. Triazolam and alprazolam served as reinforcers when substituted for diazepam or midazolam. Results: Alprazolam, diazepam, and triazolam served as effective reinforcers across a wide range of concentrations and under fixed-ratio sizes of 16 and 32. Rates of responding were usually far higher than that for the concurrently available vehicle, water. Drug intake (mg drug/kg body weight) generally increased with increases in drug concentration. When large drug amounts were consumed, signs of intoxication were observed. Conclusions: In contrast to reports of low response rates and weakly maintained behavior, the present results show that the three benzodiazepines can serve as effective reinforcers.
AB - Rationale: Benzodiazepines are among the most frequently prescribed drugs and are usually taken by mouth. However, there have been few studies of oral self-administration of these drugs, and the results of IV self-administration studies indicate that benzodiazepines are modest reinforcers. Objectives: To determine if orally delivered alprazolam, diazepam, and triazolam could serve as reinforcers for rhesus monkeys, and to determine some of the conditions under which benzodiazepine reinforced behavior occurs. Methods: Diazepam or midazolam was initially established as a reinforcer by a fading procedure whereby increasing concentrations were added to a 1 or 2% ethanol solution, and subsequently the ethanol concentration was decreased in steps to zero. Diazepam- and midazolam-reinforced responding persisted in the absence of ethanol. Triazolam and alprazolam served as reinforcers when substituted for diazepam or midazolam. Results: Alprazolam, diazepam, and triazolam served as effective reinforcers across a wide range of concentrations and under fixed-ratio sizes of 16 and 32. Rates of responding were usually far higher than that for the concurrently available vehicle, water. Drug intake (mg drug/kg body weight) generally increased with increases in drug concentration. When large drug amounts were consumed, signs of intoxication were observed. Conclusions: In contrast to reports of low response rates and weakly maintained behavior, the present results show that the three benzodiazepines can serve as effective reinforcers.
KW - Acquisition
KW - Alprazolam
KW - Benzodiazepine
KW - Diazepam
KW - Drug reinforcement
KW - Oral route
KW - Rhesus monkey
KW - Self-administration
KW - Triazolam
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036236984&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0036236984&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00213-002-1019-0
DO - 10.1007/s00213-002-1019-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 11967635
AN - SCOPUS:0036236984
VL - 161
SP - 86
EP - 94
JO - Psychopharmacology
JF - Psychopharmacology
SN - 0033-3158
IS - 1
ER -