THE RELATION BETWEEN DRUG-INDUCED EXCITATION IN THE CAT AND ADDICTION LIABILITY

Abstract

The production of central excitation in the cat by various opium alkaloids, some synthetic analgesics, and related compounds has been studied. Dihydromorphinone, diamorphine, ketobemidone, levorphan, dipipanone, methadone, apomorphine, morphine, dihydrocodeinone, dihydrocodeine, phenadoxone, alphaprodine, codeine, meperidine, dionine, apocodeine, and pholcodine were all found to cause excitation when injected subcutaneously into cats.Papaverine, narcotine, cotarnine, hydrocotarnine, dextromethorphan, persedon, nalorphine, and levallorphan did not produce excitation in the cat. Prior administration of nalorphine or levallorphan prevented the production of excitation by morphine.Tolerance to the excitatory effect of morphine in the cat can be rapidly established.It is concluded that there is a relationship, although not an exact one, between the ability to produce excitation in the cat and the danger of producing addiction in man by the opium alkaloids and many synthetic analgesics.