Administration of meptazinol to opiate-dependent patients.

A double blind comparison of the effect of intravenous meptazinol 100 mg and placebo was carried out on 8 opiate-dependent patients who were on a prolonged methadone withdrawal regime. Psychological and physiological measurements revealed no significant differences between meptazinol and placebo, and no patient reported pleasurable effects following meptazinol injection. These findings support the evidence from animal studies that meptazinol is unlikely to be abused by opiate addicts or to lead to dependence.