POTENTIATION OF THE THERAPEUTIC ACTION OF AN OPIOID RECEPTOR AGONIST AND/OR INHIBITION OR REVERSAL OF TOLERANCE TO OPIOID RECEPTOR AGONISTS USING AN ULTRALOW DOSE OF AN ALPHA-2 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST

摘要

Combination therapies of an opioid receptor agonist and an alpha-2 receptor antagonist in an amount effective to potentiate, but not antagonize, a therapeutic effect of the opioid receptor agonist are provided. Also provided are methods for use of these combination therapies in potentiating the therapeutic effects of opioid receptor agonists, inhibiting development of acute and/or chronic tolerance to opioid receptor agonists and treating conditions treatable by opioid receptor agonist therapy in a subject. In addition, a method for reversing opioid receptor agonist tolerance and/or restoring therapeutic effect of an opioid receptor agonist in a subject via administration of an alpha-2 receptor antagonist in an amount effective to potentiate, but not antagonize, the therapeutic effect of the opioid receptor agonist is provided.