Featured Publications
Opioid-induced analgesia among persons with opioid use disorder receiving methadone or buprenorphine: A systematic review of experimental pain studies
De Aquino JP, Parida S, Avila-Quintero VJ, Flores J, Compton P, Hickey T, Gómez O, Sofuoglu M. Opioid-induced analgesia among persons with opioid use disorder receiving methadone or buprenorphine: A systematic review of experimental pain studies. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2021, 228: 109097. PMID: 34601272, PMCID: PMC8595687, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109097.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist therapyOpioid use disorderExperimental pain studiesAbuse potentialRespiratory depressionAcute painPain studiesUse disordersSystematic reviewGreater abuse potentialHigh-potency opioidsMethadone-maintained personsSignificant pain reliefRespiratory depressant effectsHigh-potency compoundsOpioid naïveAgonist therapyOpioid dosesPain reliefAnalgesic effectSevere painDepressant effectAdditional dosesStudy qualityHealthy personsHighs and lows of cannabinoid-dopamine interactions: effects of genetic variability and pharmacological modulation of catechol-O-methyl transferase on the acute response to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in humans
Ranganathan M, De Aquino JP, Cortes-Briones JA, Radhakrishnan R, Pittman B, Bhakta S, D’Souza D. Highs and lows of cannabinoid-dopamine interactions: effects of genetic variability and pharmacological modulation of catechol-O-methyl transferase on the acute response to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in humans. Psychopharmacology 2019, 236: 3209-3219. PMID: 31187152, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05273-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCOMT rs4680 polymorphismMemory deficitsCOMT genotypeVal/Val individualsRs4680 polymorphismSubjective effectsTest dayCatechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) enzymePsychotomimetic effectsCognitive effectsCognitive dataCannabinoid-dopamine interactionsAcute responseHuman brainIntravenous THCPlacebo-controlled studyRole of dopaminergicCatechol-O-methyl transferaseDopaminergic signalingAcute pharmacological inhibitionDeficitsCannabinoid effectsDopaminergic toneHealthy subjectsDrug development effortsPharmacological treatment of pain among persons with opioid addiction: A systematic review and meta‐analysis with implications for drug development
De Aquino JP, Flores JM, Avila‐Quintero V, Compton P, Sofuoglu M. Pharmacological treatment of pain among persons with opioid addiction: A systematic review and meta‐analysis with implications for drug development. Addiction Biology 2020, 26: e12964. PMID: 32974993, DOI: 10.1111/adb.12964.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderClinical trialsPresence of OUDSystematic reviewTreatment of OUDActive treatment groupNeurobiology of painDrug developmentSpontaneous painAntihyperalgesic effectOngoing painPharmacological managementAnalgesic effectClinical featuresCochrane DatabasePharmacological treatmentEligible studiesOpioid addictionPainTreatment groupsUse disordersAbuse liabilityNovel therapeuticsNonsignificant heterogeneityNeurobiological overlapFeasibility and effects of galantamine on cognition in humans with cannabis use disorder
Sugarman DE, De Aquino JP, Poling J, Sofuoglu M. Feasibility and effects of galantamine on cognition in humans with cannabis use disorder. Pharmacology Biochemistry And Behavior 2019, 181: 86-92. PMID: 31082417, PMCID: PMC6545124, DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2019.05.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCannabis use disorderEffects of galantamineMeasures of attentionSelf-report measuresAdministration of galantamineOutpatient treatment periodPlacebo-controlled trialParallel-group trialTime pointsAcute cannabis intoxicationSignificant adverse effectsLong-term useSignificant main effectResponse inhibitionCognitive effectsCognitive performanceCognitive outcomesBaseline variablesCognitive AssessmentCognitive deficitsCannabis withdrawalTreatment periodProcognitive effectsGalantamine administrationBaseline sessionsAlcohol Use Disorder and Chronic Pain: An Overlooked Epidemic
De Aquino J, Sloan M, Nunes J, Costa G, Katz J, de Oliveira D, Ra J, Tang V, Petrakis I. Alcohol Use Disorder and Chronic Pain: An Overlooked Epidemic. American Journal Of Psychiatry 2024, 181: 391-402. PMID: 38706339, DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20230886.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol use disorderChronic painAUD studiesChronic pain disordersChronic pain outcomesRisk of relapseAlcohol withdrawal syndromeAssessment of painHigher levels of alcohol consumptionLevels of alcohol consumptionWithdrawal syndromePain disordersPain outcomesAcute toleranceNeurobiological changesClinical significanceUse disorderPainClinical relevanceSelf-reportAlcohol intoxicationAlcohol consumptionGeneral populationMedical conditionsNarrative reviewThe impact of cannabis on non-medical opioid use among individuals receiving pharmacotherapies for opioid use disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies
Costa G, Nunes J, Heringer D, Anand A, De Aquino J. The impact of cannabis on non-medical opioid use among individuals receiving pharmacotherapies for opioid use disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. The American Journal Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse 2024, 50: 12-26. PMID: 38225727, DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2023.2287406.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-medical opioid useOpioid use disorderOpioid useCannabis useOpioid use disorder pharmacotherapyUse disorderImpact of cannabis useAverage follow-up timeFollow-up timeMeta-analysisEvidence of moderate heterogeneityImpact of cannabisPooled odds ratioOpioids non-medicallyRandom-effects modelMeta-analysis of longitudinal studiesCannabis abstinenceTreatment modalitiesOdds ratioModerate heterogeneityPharmacotherapyCannabisOpioidComprehensive searchPublication bias
2023
Delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol modulates pain sensitivity among persons receiving opioid agonist therapy for opioid use disorder: A within‐subject, randomized, placebo‐controlled laboratory study
De Aquino J, Meyerovich J, Xie C, Ranganathan M, Compton P, Pittman B, Rogan M, Sofuoglu M. Delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol modulates pain sensitivity among persons receiving opioid agonist therapy for opioid use disorder: A within‐subject, randomized, placebo‐controlled laboratory study. Addiction Biology 2023, 28: e13317. PMID: 37644897, PMCID: PMC10468603, DOI: 10.1111/adb.13317.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderOpioid agonist therapyAgonist therapyMethadone dosesMethadone therapyPain sensitivityUse disordersPlacebo-controlled laboratory studySynergistic antinociceptive effectCognitive adverse effectsSingle oral dosesRisk-benefit profilePain sensitivity measuresCannabinoid receptor systemAntinociceptive effectTHC doseOral dosesOpioid agonistsAcute effectsCannabinoid agonistsPreclinical studiesAbuse potentialOpioid crisisTherapyReceptor system
2022
Alleviation of opioid withdrawal by cannabis and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol: A systematic review of observational and experimental human studies
De Aquino J, Bahji A, Gómez O, Sofuoglu M. Alleviation of opioid withdrawal by cannabis and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol: A systematic review of observational and experimental human studies. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2022, 241: 109702. PMID: 36434879, PMCID: PMC9772106, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109702.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid withdrawalObservational studySystematic reviewDelta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol administrationPlacebo-controlled clinical trialCannabis useNon-opioid therapeuticsPotential of cannabinoidsDose of opioidsOpioid withdrawal symptomsOpioid use disorderNarrow therapeutic windowExperimental human studiesDose-dependent increaseMain psychoactive constituentPatient characteristicsWithdrawal symptomsClinical trialsPharmacological factorsStudy qualityTherapeutic windowTherapeutic benefitUse disordersHuman studiesAbuse liabilityDevelopment of pulsed intravenous nicotine infusions as a model for inhaled nicotine in humans
De Aquino JP, DeVito EE, Xie C, Meyerovich J, Parida S, Gueorguieva R, Sofuoglu M. Development of pulsed intravenous nicotine infusions as a model for inhaled nicotine in humans. Psychopharmacology 2022, 239: 2809-2818. PMID: 35554617, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06162-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBuprenorphine Treatment of Fentanyl-Related Opioid Use Disorder.
Jegede O, Parida S, De Aquino JP. Buprenorphine Treatment of Fentanyl-Related Opioid Use Disorder. The Primary Care Companion For CNS Disorders 2022, 24 PMID: 35486939, DOI: 10.4088/pcc.21cr03163.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMultimodal Correlates of Cannabis Use among U.S. Veterans with Bipolar Disorder: An Integrated Study of Clinical, Cognitive, and Functional Outcomes
Selloni A, Bhatia G, Ranganathan M, De Aquino JP. Multimodal Correlates of Cannabis Use among U.S. Veterans with Bipolar Disorder: An Integrated Study of Clinical, Cognitive, and Functional Outcomes. Journal Of Dual Diagnosis 2022, 18: 81-91. PMID: 35430960, PMCID: PMC9794455, DOI: 10.1080/15504263.2022.2053264.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBD type IPost-traumatic stress disorderBipolar disorderDrug useU.S. veteransLifetime suicidal ideationHigher functional capacityType IPoor outcomeFunctional outcomeNationwide studyFunctional capacityAnalysis of covarianceSuicidal ideationBivariate analysisCannabis useFunctional measuresStress disorderCannabis increasesDisordersVeteransImpact of delivery rate on the acute response to intravenous nicotine: A human laboratory study with implications for regulatory science
De Aquino JP, MacLean RR, Gueorguieva R, DeVito EE, Eid T, Sofuoglu M. Impact of delivery rate on the acute response to intravenous nicotine: A human laboratory study with implications for regulatory science. Addiction Biology 2022, 27: e13161. PMID: 35229960, PMCID: PMC8903077, DOI: 10.1111/adb.13161.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAbuse potentialPositive subjective drug effectsSubjective drug effectsHuman laboratory studiesPositive subjective effectsAttention functionSmoking urgesOvernight abstinencePotential therapeutic effectsEffects of nicotineHeart rate increaseDelivery rateDependent smokersExperimental sessionsSubjective effectsNicotine dependenceIntravenous nicotineBlood pressureSaline infusionAcute effectsTherapeutic effectHeart rateDrug effectsAcute responseCrossover design
2021
Case Report: Increasing the Frequency of Intramuscular Naltrexone Administration in a High Risk Patient with Opioid use Disorder
Wright M, De Aquino J, Bystrak T. Case Report: Increasing the Frequency of Intramuscular Naltrexone Administration in a High Risk Patient with Opioid use Disorder. Substance Abuse 2021, 42: 493-496. PMID: 33689592, DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2021.1876811.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHigh-risk patientsOpioid use disorderUse disorderReducing opioid cravingDosing strategiesFrequent dosingTreatment of opioid use disorderOpioid overdoseNovel dosing strategiesAlternative dosing strategiesCraving suppressionIncreased cravingEvidence of side effectsOpioid cravingShort-term safetyNaltrexone administrationIncreased dosing frequencyOpioid abstinenceNational opioid crisisRisk of opioid overdoseNaltrexoneExtended-releaseRisk patientsHigh-potencyPatient doseBuprenorphine Microinduction: Logistical Barriers and the Need for Convergent Evidence
De Aquino JP, Parida S, Sofuoglu M. Buprenorphine Microinduction: Logistical Barriers and the Need for Convergent Evidence. Clinical Drug Investigation 2021, 41: 665-665. PMID: 34106434, DOI: 10.1007/s40261-021-01049-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThe Pharmacology of Buprenorphine Microinduction for Opioid Use Disorder
De Aquino JP, Parida S, Sofuoglu M. The Pharmacology of Buprenorphine Microinduction for Opioid Use Disorder. Clinical Drug Investigation 2021, 41: 425-436. PMID: 33818748, PMCID: PMC8020374, DOI: 10.1007/s40261-021-01032-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsUnique pharmacological profileOpioid use disorderOpioid withdrawalPotential dose-dependent effectsPlacebo-controlled clinical trialLong-term treatment outcomesFull opioid agonistsStandard induction regimensOpen-label studyFirst-line pharmacotherapySchedule of administrationMu-opioid receptorsAvailability of buprenorphineDose-dependent effectFuture translational researchInduction regimensOpioid taperOpioid toneFirst doseClinical outcomesClinical evidenceOpioid agonistsBuprenorphine formulationsDaily dosesClinical trials
2020
Impact of cannabis on non-medical opioid use and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder: a nationwide longitudinal VA study
De Aquino JP, Sofuoglu M, Stefanovics EA, Rosenheck RA. Impact of cannabis on non-medical opioid use and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder: a nationwide longitudinal VA study. The American Journal Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse 2020, 46: 812-822. PMID: 33035104, DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2020.1818248.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-medical opioid usePosttraumatic stress disorderOpioid useNon-medical opioidsPTSD symptomsCannabis useStress disorderSubstance useBaseline cannabis useImpact of cannabisSevere PTSD symptomsIntensive PTSD treatmentMore PTSD symptomsPTSD treatmentU.S. veteransSymptomsVA studyCannabisVeteransOpioidsSubstitution agentsBaselineDaysDisordersTreatmentRapid Transition From Methadone to Buprenorphine Utilizing a Micro-dosing Protocol in the Outpatient Veteran Affairs Setting.
De Aquino J, Fairgrieve C, Klaire S, Garcia-Vassallo G. Rapid Transition From Methadone to Buprenorphine Utilizing a Micro-dosing Protocol in the Outpatient Veteran Affairs Setting. Journal Of Addiction Medicine 2020, 14: e271-e273. PMID: 32011408, PMCID: PMC7392785, DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000000618.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderPrecipitated withdrawalTreatment of opioid use disorderCessation of methadoneMicro-dose protocolRisk of precipitated withdrawalMethadone to buprenorphineOpioid agonist therapyTransition to buprenorphineAgonist therapyOpioid useOutpatient protocolUse disorderOutpatient settingVeterans Affairs settingsBuprenorphineMethadonePsychiatry settingWithdrawalTransition protocolDemonstrating feasibilityInductionOpioidTherapyPatientsPerpetual Hunger: The Neurobiological Consequences of Long-Term Opioid Use
Bommersbach T, Ross DA, De Aquino JP. Perpetual Hunger: The Neurobiological Consequences of Long-Term Opioid Use. Biological Psychiatry 2020, 87: e1-e3. PMID: 31806086, PMCID: PMC7830805, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.10.007.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2019
High potency synthetic opioids: Curbing the third wave of the opioid crisis
Parida S, De Aquino JP, Sofuoglu M. High potency synthetic opioids: Curbing the third wave of the opioid crisis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 2019, 106: 9-10. PMID: 31251966, DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.06.019.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAdverse Consequences of Co-Occurring Opioid Use Disorder and Cannabis Use Disorder Compared to Opioid Use Disorder Only
De Aquino JP, Sofuoglu M, Stefanovics E, Rosenheck R. Adverse Consequences of Co-Occurring Opioid Use Disorder and Cannabis Use Disorder Compared to Opioid Use Disorder Only. The American Journal Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse 2019, 45: 527-537. PMID: 31112429, DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2019.1607363.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDrug use disordersOpioid use disorderUse disordersOpioid prescriptionsCo-occurring opioid use disordersNational Veterans Health Administration dataVeterans Health Administration dataCo-occurring opioidEmergency department visitsHealth Administration dataInpatient psychiatric admissionCannabis use disorderOpioid prescribingClinical characteristicsED visitsDepartment visitsInpatient admissionsPsychiatric admissionsFiscal year 2012Lower riskPatientsBivariate analysisAdministration dataDisordersHigher likelihood