Kappa opioid agonists reduce oxycodone self-administration in male rhesus monkeys.
Psychopharmacology May 1, 2020 C Austin Zamarripa, Jennifer E Naylor, Sally L Huskinson et al.
Combining the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonists salvinorin A or nalfurafine with oxycodone reduced self-administration of oxycodone in adult male rhesus monkeys under a progressive ratio schedule. Oxycodone alone was self-administered above saline levels at sufficient doses. Adding salvinorin A reduced mean injections per session to saline levels, and nalfurafine reduced them to levels significantly lower than oxycodone alone. Pretreatment with the KOR antagonist nor-BNI reversed nalfurafine's effect, indicating the effect is KOR-dependent. The authors propose that combinations of KOR agonists with prescription opioids may have reduced abuse liability.