Evaluation of Serum Cortisol Levels and Response to Cosyntropin Test in Methadone-treated Opium Addicts
| Author | Faegheh Zojaji | en |
| Author | Alireza Khalesi | en |
| Author | Afsane Bahrami | en |
| Author | Seyed Ali Ebrahimi | en |
| Author | Mahmoud Ganjifard | en |
| Issued Date | 2023-06-30 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Opium has been used for thousands of years for medical and analgesic purposes, and its misuse has also increased in recent years. Methadone, a synthetic opioid, has been used as an analgesic and to help patients quit opium addiction. However, some evidence suggests that long-term use of opioids can affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the serum cortisol level and response to the cosyntropin stimulation test in opium addicts on methadone treatment. Methods: The study was conducted in November 2019 at Imam Reza Hospital Rehab Center, Birjand, Iran. Thirty-eight methadone-treated opium addicts participated in the study. A blood sample was initially obtained, then 250 µg intramuscular cosyntropin was injected. After 30 and 60 minutes, two other blood samples were obtained. The data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: There was a significant difference between serum cortisol levels and the normal value in methadone users (9.46 ± 5.42 vs. 14 µg/dL) (P < 0.001). The mean response to the cosyntropin stimulation test in methadone users was 9.34 ± 8.11 µg/dL. Also, 55% of the participants had adrenal insufficiency. Conclusions: Serum cortisol levels significantly differed from normal values in methadone-treated patients. Therefore, we recommend measuring serum cortisol levels in methadone-treated patients before major medical procedures to consider the stress doses of corticosteroids. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/aapm-135206 | en |
| Keyword | Adrenal Insufficiency | en |
| Keyword | Cortisol | en |
| Keyword | Cosyntropin Test | en |
| Keyword | Methadone | en |
| Keyword | Opioids | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Evaluation of Serum Cortisol Levels and Response to Cosyntropin Test in Methadone-treated Opium Addicts | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |
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