Association between rs1799971 in the mu opioid receptor gene and methadone maintenance treatment response

Abstract

Heroin dependence is an ongoing public health issue worldwide, and methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is currently an effective substitution therapy for patients with heroin addiction. Methadone, as a synthetic agonist of the mu opioid receptor, can reduce illicit opiate use and improve social rehabilitation. 1,2 There is an obvious difference in individual response to methadone due to large interindividual variability in its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. [3][4][5][6][7] Optimal personalized medicine for each patient is vital for successful MMT. 8,9 Genetic factors are related to the diversity of individuals in responding to MMT. [10][11][12] Several articles reported that numerous variations in multiple genes are related to modification of the individual MMT response. [13][14][15] Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of several genes are significant associations with MMT, such as the genes

Polymorphisms in the A118G SNP of the OPRM1 gene produce different experiences of opioids: A human laboratory phenotype–genotype assessment

“…[18][19][20][21] Such a change could engender a low response profile. Notably, retrospective and correlative examinations of A118G in opioid response report that persons with the minor genotype (AG/GG) require higher opioid doses to achieve analgesia and adequate suppression of opioid withdrawal relative to persons who have the major genotype (AA), [22][23][24][25] further supporting this hypothesis.…”