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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2000, 02, 1 (pages: 9 - 14)

Sexual dysfunction associated with methadone maintenance: Treatment with bromocryptine

Shinderman M. S., Maxwell S.

Summary: Sexual dysfunction, a side effect of methadone maintenance treatment, may be caused by opioid-induced hyperprolactinemia; on this basis, a dopamine agonist could reverse the effect. We treated 34 (23 male; 11 female) patients with bromocryptine, 2.5-10mg/d. 65% of males and 36% of females reported a positive response. Responders and non-responders had a similar age (44 Vs 40 yrs), time in MMT (45.5 mos), and use of serotonergic antidepressant therapy (21.1% Vs 26.7%). Responders took higher doses of methadone (220.3 Vs 165.6 mg/d), and were more likely to be taking bupropion or methylphenidate (42.1% Vs 26.7%). Alternative therapies with other dopaminergic agonists are discussed