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Raghav JG, Kumar H, Ji L, Vemuri K, Makriyannis A, Suh J, Leonard MZ, Dang V, Ty C, Marandola S, Kane N, Witt AS, Shaqour S, Miczek KA. The neutral CB1 antagonist AM6527 reduces ethanol seeking, binge-like consumption, reinforcing, and withdrawal effects in male and female mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:427-443. [PMID: 38001264 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06500-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a debilitating physiological and psychiatric disorder which affects individuals globally. The current pharmacological interventions to treat AUD are limited, and hence there is an urgent need for a novel pharmacological therapy which can be effective and safe across the population. OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate a novel neutral cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1R) antagonist, AM6527, in several preclinical models of ethanol consumption using male and female C57BL6/J mice. METHODS Independent groups of male and female mice were subjected to repeated cycles of drinking in the dark (DID), or intermittent access to alcohol (IAA) procedures. Twenty minutes prior to ethanol access in each procedure, animals were treated with intraperitoneal injections of either 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg of AM6527 or its respective vehicle. Acamprosate (100, 200, 300, and 400 mg/kg) or its respective vehicle was used as a positive control. Separate groups of male mice were subjected to a chain schedule of ethanol reinforcement to gain access to ethanol wherein completion of a fixed interval (FI; 5 min) schedule (link 1: "Seeking") was reinforced with continuous access to ethanol (fixed ratio; FR1) for up to 1.8 g/kg (link 2: "consumption"). All the animals were treated with 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg of AM6527 or its respective vehicle 20 mins prior to the start of the FI chain of the procedure. Separately, AM6527 was also evaluated in male and female mice undergoing acute ethanol withdrawal following 8 weeks of intermittent or continuous access to 20% ethanol drinking. RESULTS In both DID and IAA procedures, AM6527 reduced ethanol consumption in a dose-related manner in both male and female mice. AM6527 produced no tolerance in the DID procedure; mice treated with 3 mg/kg of AM6527 for 3 weeks continuously drank significantly smaller amounts of ethanol as compared to vehicle-treated mice over a period of three DID cycles. Moreover, in the IAA procedure, AM6527 caused an increase in water intake over the 24-h period. Acamprosate transiently reduced ethanol intake in male mice in both the DID and the IAA procedures but failed to produce any significant effect in female mice. AM6527 also produced a decrease in the FI responding ("ethanol seeking") in animals trained to self-administer ethanol. Lastly, AM6527 mitigated neurological withdrawal signs, i.e., handling induced convulsions (HIC) in mice undergoing acute ethanol withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS Current findings support previous studies with CB1R neutral antagonist in reducing voluntary ethanol intake and seeking behavior. Based on results shown in this work, AM6527 can be developed as a first in class CB1R neutral antagonist to treat AUD in both males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimit Girish Raghav
- Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Hritik Kumar
- Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Lipin Ji
- Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kiran Vemuri
- Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Alexandros Makriyannis
- Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Junghyup Suh
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Mclean Hospital, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Michael Z Leonard
- Dept. of Psychology, Tufts University, 530 Boston Ave (Bacon Hall), Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Vivi Dang
- Dept. of Psychology, Tufts University, 530 Boston Ave (Bacon Hall), Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Chelsea Ty
- Dept. of Psychology, Tufts University, 530 Boston Ave (Bacon Hall), Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Stephen Marandola
- Dept. of Psychology, Tufts University, 530 Boston Ave (Bacon Hall), Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Natalie Kane
- Dept. of Psychology, Tufts University, 530 Boston Ave (Bacon Hall), Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Annika S Witt
- Dept. of Psychology, Tufts University, 530 Boston Ave (Bacon Hall), Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Samar Shaqour
- Dept. of Psychology, Tufts University, 530 Boston Ave (Bacon Hall), Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Klaus A Miczek
- Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Dept. of Psychology, Tufts University, 530 Boston Ave (Bacon Hall), Medford, MA, 02155, USA.
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Tufts University, Boston, MA, 02111, USA.
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Doyle MR, Dirik S, Martinez AR, Hughes TE, Iyer MR, Sneddon EA, Seo H, Cohen SM, de Guglielmo G. Catechol-O-Methyltransferase inhibition and alcohol use disorder: Evaluating the efficacy of tolcapone in ethanol-dependent rats. Neuropharmacology 2024; 242:109770. [PMID: 37858886 PMCID: PMC10873029 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a significant public health issue in the United States. It affects millions of individuals and their families and contributes to substantial societal and economic burdens. Despite the availability of some pharmacological treatments, there is still a pressing need to develop more effective therapeutic strategies to address the diverse range of symptoms and challenges associated with AUD. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibition recently emerged as a promising new approach to treating AUD due to its potential to improve cognitive effects commonly associated with AUD. Tolcapone, an FDA-approved COMT inhibitor, has shown some promise for treating AUD; however, its ability to decrease drinking in ethanol-dependent rats has not been well-established. In this study, we evaluated the effects of tolcapone on operant, oral ethanol self-administration in non-dependent and dependent rats, and in rats that self-administered oral saccharin. To induce dependence, rats underwent the chronic intermittent exposure to vapor model, and their drinking levels were assessed during acute withdrawal from ethanol. Our results demonstrated that tolcapone attenuated responding for ethanol in dependent rats only, without affecting self-administration in non-dependent rats or rats self-administering saccharin. Moreover, we found that tolcapone was differentially effective in different estrous phases in female rats. These findings suggest that COMT inhibition, specifically using tolcapone, may be a valuable pharmacotherapy for treating AUD, particularly in individuals who are physically dependent on alcohol. Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms underlying the observed effects and to assess the potential of COMT inhibitors in a broader population of individuals with AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle R Doyle
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Selen Dirik
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Angelica R Martinez
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Talyn E Hughes
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mohini R Iyer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Sneddon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Hyeonglim Seo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Seth M Cohen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Wallach JD, Glick L, Gueorguieva R, O’Malley SS. Evidence of subgroup differences in meta-analyses evaluating medications for alcohol use disorder: An umbrella review. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 48:5-15. [PMID: 38102794 PMCID: PMC10841726 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating medications for alcohol use disorder (AUD) often examine heterogeneity of treatment effects through subgroup analyses that contrast effect estimates in groups of patients across individual demographic, clinical, and study design-related characteristics. However, these analyses are often not prespecified or adequately powered, highlighting the potential role of subgroup analyses in meta-analysis. Here, we conducted an umbrella review (i.e., a systematic review of meta-analyses) to determine the range and characteristics of reported subgroup analyses in meta-analyses of AUD medications. We searched PubMed to identify meta-analyses of RCTs evaluating medications for the management of AUD, alcohol abuse, or alcohol dependence in adults. We sought studies that measured drinking-related outcomes; quality of life, function, and rates of mortality; adverse events; and dropout. We considered meta-analyses that reported the results from formal subgroup analyses (comparing the summary effects across subgroup levels); summary effect estimates stratified across subgroup levels; and meta-regression, regression, or correlation-based subgroup analyses. We analyzed nine meta-analyses that included 61 formal subgroup analyses (median = 6 per meta-analysis), of which 33 (54%) were based on baseline participant-level and 28 (46%) were based on trial-level characteristics. Of the 58 subgroup analyses with either a p-value from a subgroup test or a statement by the authors that the subgroup analyses were not statistically significant, eight (14%) were statistically significant at the p < 0.05 level. Twelve meta-analyses reported the results of 102 meta-regression analyses, of which 25 (25%) identified statistically significant predictors of the relevant outcome of interest; nine (9%) were based on baseline participant-level and 93 (91%) were based on trial characteristics. Subgroup analyses across meta-analyses of AUD medications often focus on study-level characteristics, which may not be as clinically informative as subgroup analyses based on participant-level characteristics. Opportunities exist for future meta-analyses to standardize their subgroup methodology, focus on more clinically informative participant-level characteristics, and use predictive approaches to account for multiple relevant variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D. Wallach
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Laura Glick
- Department of Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Rosenstand NJ, Nielsen AS, Skøt L, Anhøj S, Nielsen DG, Højlund M, Mellentin AI. Pharmacological Treatment of Alcohol use Disorder in Patients with Psychotic Disorders: A Systematic Review. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:1129-1143. [PMID: 36582063 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666221229160300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with psychotic disorders (PD) often have comorbid alcohol use disorder (AUD), which is typically treated pharmacologically. Up till now, no systematic review has examined the effectiveness and safety of AUD treatment in PD patients. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to systematically review the literature on (1) the effects of pharmacological treatments for AUD on drinking outcomes, (2) the side effects of the drugs, and (3) the effects of polypharmacy in patients with comorbid AUD and PD. METHODS Bibliographic searches were conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and PsycINFO. At least two reviewers extracted the data, assessed the risk of bias, and performed the qualitative synthesis of the collected evidence. RESULTS Twelve eligible studies were identified, half being randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Three studies examined disulfiram, nine naltrexone, two acamprosate, and one nalmefene by comparing the effects of treatment to placebo, baseline, or pharmacological agents. Disulfiram and naltrexone were shown to reduce alcohol intake. Regarding acamprosate, the findings were mixed. Nalmefene decreased alcohol intake. All pharmacological agents appeared safe to use as AUD monotherapy, but cardiac events were reported when combining naltrexone and disulfiram. Nine studies had a high risk of bias, and three had some other concerns. CONCLUSION The studies provide tentative support for the use of naltrexone and disulfiram in this population, although combinations of pharmacological AUD treatments and other polypharmacy remain unexplored. The studies had high adherence rates that are hardly replicable in real-world settings. Thus, the findings should be confirmed in larger high quality efficacy and effectiveness RCTs with longer follow-ups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Jørgen Rosenstand
- Unit for Psychiatric Research, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Public Health, Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy, and Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Anette Søgaard Nielsen
- Unit for Psychiatric Research, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Psychiatry, Odense University Hospital, Region of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, Brain Research-Inter-Disciplinary Guided Excellence (BRIDGE), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Lotte Skøt
- Unit for Psychiatric Research, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Simon Anhøj
- Unit for Psychiatric Research, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Psychiatry, Region of Southern Denmark, Svendborg, Denmark
| | - Dorthe Grüner Nielsen
- Unit for Psychiatric Research, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Drug Treatment Center Odense, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Mikkel Højlund
- Drug Treatment Center Odense, Odense C, Denmark
- Department of Psychiatry Aabenraa, Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern Denmark, Aabenraa, Denmark
| | - Angelina Isabella Mellentin
- Unit for Psychiatric Research, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Public Health, Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy, and Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Psychiatry, Odense University Hospital, Region of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Research Unit for Telepsychiatry and E-Mental Health, Center for Telepsychiatry, Region of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Renu K, Myakala H, Chakraborty R, Bhattacharya S, Abuwani A, Lokhandwala M, Vellingiri B, Gopalakrishnan AV. Molecular mechanisms of alcohol's effects on the human body: A review and update. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2023; 37:e23502. [PMID: 37578200 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol consumption has been linked to numerous negative health outcomes although it has some beneficial effects on moderate dosages, the most severe of which being alcohol-induced hepatitis. The number of people dying from this liver illness has been shown to climb steadily over time, and its prevalence has been increasing. Researchers have found that alcohol consumption primarily affects the brain, leading to a wide range of neurological and psychological diseases. High-alcohol-consumption addicts not only experienced seizures, but also ataxia, aggression, social anxiety, and variceal hemorrhage that ultimately resulted in death, ascites, and schizophrenia. Drugs treating this liver condition are limited and can cause serious side effects like depression. Serine-threonine kinases, cAMP protein kinases, protein kinase C, ERK, RACK 1, Homer 2, and more have all been observed to have their signaling pathways disrupted by alcohol, and alcohol has also been linked to epigenetic changes. In addition, alcohol consumption induces dysbiosis by changing the composition of the microbiome found in the gastrointestinal tract. Although more studies are needed, those that have been done suggest that probiotics aid in keeping the various microbiota concentrations stable. It has been argued that reducing one's alcohol intake may seem less harmful because excessive drinking is a lifestyle disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaviyarasi Renu
- Department of Biochemistry, Centre of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Saveetha Dental College & Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Haritha Myakala
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Rituraj Chakraborty
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sharmishtha Bhattacharya
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Asmita Abuwani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Mariyam Lokhandwala
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Balachandar Vellingiri
- Department of Zoology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine/Translational Research, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab (CUPB), Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Abilash Valsala Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
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Kranzler HR, Hartwell EE. Medications for treating alcohol use disorder: A narrative review. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2023; 47:1224-1237. [PMID: 37526592 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Chronic heavy alcohol use impacts all major neurotransmitter systems and is associated with multiple medical, psychiatric, and social problems. Available evidence-based medications to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD) are underutilized in clinical practice. These medications promote abstinence or reduce alcohol consumption, though there are questions regarding their optimal dosage, length of treatment, and utility in combination with one another. Pharmacogenetic approaches, which use a patient's genetic make-up to inform medication selection, have garnered great interest but have yet to yield results robust enough to incorporate them in routine clinical care. This narrative review summarizes the evidence both for medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (disulfiram, oral naltrexone, acamprosate, and extended-release naltrexone) and those commonly used off-label (e.g., gabapentin, baclofen, and topiramate) for AUD treatment. We discuss these drugs' mechanisms of action, clinical use, pharmacogenetic findings, and treatment recommendations. We conclude that the most consistent evidence supporting the pharmacotherapy of AUD is for the opioid antagonists, naltrexone and nalmefene (which is not approved in the United States), and topiramate. These medications demonstrate consistent small or moderate effects in reducing the frequency of drinking and/or heavy drinking. Lastly, we make suggestions for research needed to refine and expand the current literature on effective pharmacotherapy for AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry R Kranzler
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Veterans Integrated Service Network 4, Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Crescenz VAMC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Emily E Hartwell
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Veterans Integrated Service Network 4, Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Crescenz VAMC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Botwright S, Sutawong J, Kingkaew P, Anothaisintawee T, Dabak SV, Suwanpanich C, Promchit N, Kampang R, Isaranuwatchai W. Which interventions for alcohol use should be included in a universal healthcare benefit package? An umbrella review of targeted interventions to address harmful drinking and dependence. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:382. [PMID: 36823618 PMCID: PMC9948368 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15152-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to identify targeted interventions for the prevention and treatment of harmful alcohol use. Umbrella review methodology was used to summarise the effectiveness across a broad range of interventions, in order to identify which interventions should be considered for inclusion within universal health coverage schemes in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS AND FINDINGS We included systematic reviews with meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on targeted interventions addressing alcohol use in harmful drinkers or individuals with alcohol use disorder. We only included outcomes related to alcohol consumption, heavy drinking, binge drinking, abstinence, or alcohol-attributable accident, injury, morbidity or mortality. PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the International HTA Database were searched from inception to 3 September 2021. Risk of bias of reviews was assessed using the AMSTAR2 tool. After reviewing the abstracts of 9,167 articles, results were summarised narratively and certainty in the body of evidence for each intervention was assessed using GRADE. In total, 86 studies met the inclusion criteria, of which the majority reported outcomes for brief intervention (30 studies) or pharmacological interventions (29 studies). Overall, methodological quality of included studies was low. CONCLUSIONS For harmful drinking, brief interventions, cognitive behavioural therapy, and motivational interviewing showed a small effect, whereas mentoring in adolescents and children may have a significant long-term effect. For alcohol use disorder, social network approaches and acamprosate showed evidence of a significant and durable effect. More evidence is required on the effectiveness of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), nalmefene, and quetiapine, as well as optimal combinations of pharmacological and psychosocial interventions. As an umbrella review, we were unable to identify the extent to which variation between studies stemmed from differences in intervention delivery or variation between country contexts. Further research is required on applicability of findings across settings and best practice for implementation. Funded by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, grant number 61-00-1812.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siobhan Botwright
- Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Tiwanon Rd, 6Th Floor, 6Th Building, Muang, 11000, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
| | - Jiratorn Sutawong
- Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Tiwanon Rd, 6Th Floor, 6Th Building, Muang, 11000, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
| | - Pritaporn Kingkaew
- Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Tiwanon Rd, 6Th Floor, 6Th Building, Muang, 11000, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Thunyarat Anothaisintawee
- Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Tiwanon Rd, 6Th Floor, 6Th Building, Muang, 11000, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Saudamini Vishwanath Dabak
- Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Tiwanon Rd, 6Th Floor, 6Th Building, Muang, 11000, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Chotika Suwanpanich
- Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Tiwanon Rd, 6Th Floor, 6Th Building, Muang, 11000, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Nattiwat Promchit
- Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Tiwanon Rd, 6Th Floor, 6Th Building, Muang, 11000, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Roongnapa Kampang
- Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Tiwanon Rd, 6Th Floor, 6Th Building, Muang, 11000, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Wanrudee Isaranuwatchai
- Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Tiwanon Rd, 6Th Floor, 6Th Building, Muang, 11000, Nonthaburi, Thailand
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Stokłosa I, Więckiewicz G, Stokłosa M, Piegza M, Pudlo R, Gorczyca P. Medications for the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence-Current State of Knowledge and Future Perspectives from a Public Health Perspective. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1870. [PMID: 36767234 PMCID: PMC9915396 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20031870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
No single effective therapy for alcohol abuse has been found, despite it being a serious sociological and economic problem for hundreds of years. It seems difficult to find a single drug as a panacea for the alcohol problem due to the complexity of the pathophysiology of alcohol dependence. The purpose of this narrative review is to review existing and potentially future pharmaceuticals for the treatment of alcohol dependence in the most affordable way possible. Psychotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for alcoholism, while few drugs approved by legislators are available in the augmentation of this treatment, such as acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone, approved by the FDA, and nalmefene by the EMA. There are recent reports in the literature on the possibility of using baclofen, topiramate, varenicline, and gabapentin in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Moreover, the results of recent clinical trials using psychoactive substances such as psilocybin and MDMA appear to be a breakthrough in the modern treatment of alcohol abuse. Despite this initial optimism, a lot of scientific effort is still needed before new pharmacological methods supporting the treatment of alcohol dependence syndrome will be widely available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iga Stokłosa
- Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, Medical University of Silesia, 42-612 Tarnowskie Góry, Poland
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Mason BJ. Looking Back, Looking Forward: Current Medications and Innovative Potential Medications to Treat Alcohol Use Disorder. Alcohol Res 2022; 42:11. [PMID: 36320345 PMCID: PMC9595448 DOI: 10.35946/arcr.v42.1.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This article is part of a Festschrift commemorating the 50th anniversary of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Established in 1970, first as part of the National Institute of Mental Health and later as an independent institute of the National Institutes of Health, NIAAA today is the world's largest funding agency for alcohol research. In addition to its own intramural research program, NIAAA supports the entire spectrum of innovative basic, translational, and clinical research to advance the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of alcohol use disorder and alcohol-related problems. To celebrate the anniversary, NIAAA hosted a 2-day symposium, "Alcohol Across the Lifespan: 50 Years of Evidence-Based Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment Research," devoted to key topics within the field of alcohol research. This article is based on Dr. Mason's presentation at the event. NIAAA Director George F. Koob, Ph.D., serves as editor of the Festschrift.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara J Mason
- Pearson Center for Alcoholism and Addiction Research, Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
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Antonelli M, Sestito L, Tarli C, Addolorato G. Perspectives on the pharmacological management of alcohol use disorder: Are the approved medications effective? Eur J Intern Med 2022; 103:13-22. [PMID: 35597734 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2022.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In the last decades, many medications have been tested for the treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Among them, disulfiram, acamprosate, naltrexone, nalmefene, sodium oxybate and baclofen have been approved in different countries, with different specific indications. Topiramate is not approved for the treatment of AUD, however, it is suggested as a therapeutic option by the American Psychiatric Association for patients who do not tolerate or respond to approved therapies. AREAS COVERED In this narrative review we have analyzed the main studies available in literature, investigating the efficacy and safety of these medications, distinguishing whether they were oriented towards abstinence or not. Randomized controlled studies, analyzing larger populations for longer periods were the main focus of our analysis. CONCLUSIONS The medications currently available for the treatment of AUD are quite effective, yet further progress can still be achieved through the personalized strategies. Also, these medications are still markedly underutilized in clinical practice and many patients do not have access to specialized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariangela Antonelli
- Internal Medicine and Alcohol Related Disease Unit, Columbus-Gemelli Hospital, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Sestito
- Internal Medicine and Alcohol Related Disease Unit, Columbus-Gemelli Hospital, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Tarli
- Internal Medicine and Alcohol Related Disease Unit, Columbus-Gemelli Hospital, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Addolorato
- Internal Medicine and Alcohol Related Disease Unit, Columbus-Gemelli Hospital, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy; CEMAD Digestive Disease Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
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11
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Ho MF, Zhang C, Moon I, Coombes BJ, Biernacka J, Skime M, Choi DS, Croarkin PE, Frye MA, Ngo Q, Skillon C, Oesterle TS, Karpyak VM, Li H, Weinshilboum RM. Plasma TNFSF10 levels associated with acamprosate treatment response in patients with alcohol use disorder. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:986238. [PMID: 36120372 PMCID: PMC9475292 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.986238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Acamprosate is an anti-craving drug used in alcohol use disorder (AUD) pharmacotherapy. However, only a subset of patients achieves optimal treatment outcomes. The identification of predictive biomarkers of acamprosate treatment response in patients with AUD would be a substantial advance in addiction medicine. We designed this study to use proteomics data as a quantitative biological trait as a step toward identifying inflammatory modulators that might be associated with acamprosate treatment outcomes. The NIAAA-funded Mayo Clinic Center for the Individualized Treatment of Alcoholism study had previously recruited 442 AUD patients who received 3 months of acamprosate treatment. However, only 267 subjects returned for the 3-month follow-up visit and, as a result, had treatment outcome information available. Baseline alcohol craving intensity was the most significant predictor of acamprosate treatment outcomes. We performed plasma proteomics using the Olink target 96 inflammation panel and identified that baseline plasma TNF superfamily member 10 (TNFSF10) concentration was associated with alcohol craving intensity and variation in acamprosate treatment outcomes among AUD patients. We also performed RNA sequencing using baseline peripheral blood mononuclear cells from AUD patients with known acamprosate treatment outcomes which revealed that inflammation-related pathways were highly associated with relapse to alcohol use during the 3 months of acamprosate treatment. These observations represent an important step toward advancing our understanding of the pathophysiology of AUD and molecular mechanisms associated with acamprosate treatment response. In conclusion, applying omics-based approaches may be a practical approach for identifying biologic markers that could potentially predict alcohol craving intensity and acamprosate treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Fen Ho
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Irene Moon
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Brandon J. Coombes
- Division of Computational Biology, Quantitative Health Sciences, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Joanna Biernacka
- Division of Computational Biology, Quantitative Health Sciences, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Michelle Skime
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Doo-Sup Choi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Paul E. Croarkin
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Mark A. Frye
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Quyen Ngo
- Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Mayo Clinic, Center City, MN, United States
| | - Cedric Skillon
- Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Mayo Clinic, Center City, MN, United States
| | - Tyler S. Oesterle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Victor M. Karpyak
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Hu Li
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Richard M. Weinshilboum
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
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12
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Melugin PR, Wu F, Munoz C, Phensy A, Pradhan G, Luo Y, Nofal A, Manepalli R, Kroener S. The effects of acamprosate on prefrontal cortical function are mimicked by CaCl2 and they are influenced by the history of alcohol exposure. Neuropharmacology 2022; 212:109062. [PMID: 35430241 PMCID: PMC10804777 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder is associated with functional changes in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which include altered glutamatergic transmission and deficits in executive functions that contribute to relapse. Acamprosate (calcium-bis N-acetylhomotaurinate) reduces alcohol craving and relapse, effects that are thought to be mediated by acamprosate's ability to ameliorate alcohol-induced dysregulation of glutamatergic signaling. Treatment with acamprosate and its active moiety calcium (CaCl2) both improve deficits in cognitive flexibility in postdependent mice following chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) exposure. Here, we show that mice that self-administered alcohol under goal-directed conditions (i.e., operant responding on a fixed-ratio schedule) also display similar deficits in cognitive flexibility and altered glutamatergic signaling in the mPFC, both of which were improved with acamprosate or CaCl2. However, under conditions shown to bias behavior towards habitual responding (operant self-administration after CIE exposure, or on a variable interval schedule), alcohol-induced changes to glutamatergic transmission were unaffected by either acamprosate or CaCl2 treatment. Together, these findings suggest that the variable effects of acamprosate on synaptic signaling may reflect a shift in mPFC networks related to the loss of behavioral control in habitual alcohol-seeking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick R Melugin
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Fei Wu
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, TX, USA; Institute of Neurobiology, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Crystal Munoz
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Aarron Phensy
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Grishma Pradhan
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yi Luo
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Abraham Nofal
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Rohan Manepalli
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Sven Kroener
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, TX, USA.
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13
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Stryhn L, Larsen MB, Mejldal A, Sibbersen C, Nielsen DG, Nielsen B, Nielsen AS, Stenager E, Mellentin AI. Relapse prevention for alcohol use disorders: combined acamprosate and cue exposure therapy as aftercare. Nord J Psychiatry 2022; 76:394-402. [PMID: 34622734 DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2021.1985169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Many patients with alcohol use disorders are challenged by cravings leading to repeated relapses. Both cue exposure therapy (CET) and acamprosate target alcohol cravings and are often combined (CET + acamprosate). The main aim of this study was to investigate whether aftercare treatment consisting of CET combined with acamprosate is equivalent to (A) CET as monotherapy, (B) aftercare as usual (AAU) as monotherapy or (C) AAU combined with acamprosate. METHODS Patients were randomized to receive either CET with urge-specific coping skills (USCS) as aftercare or AAU. Acamprosate prescription data were extracted from patient case records. Alcohol consumption, cravings, and USCS were assessed at pre-aftercare, post-aftercare, and 6-month follow-up. RESULTS Overall, patients increased their alcohol consumption during and following aftercare treatment, thereby relapsing despite any treatment. However, CET + acamprosate achieved greater abstinence compared to AAU + acamprosate at follow-up (p=.047). CET + acamprosate also reduced number of drinking days (p=.020) and number of days with excessive drinking (p=.020) at post-aftercare, when compared to AAU monotherapy. CET monotherapy increased sensible drinking at post-aftercare compared to AAU monotherapy (p=.045) and AAU + acamprosate (p=.047). Only CET monotherapy showed improvement in cravings, when compared to AAU at follow-up (mean urge level: p=.032; peak urge level: p=.014). CONCLUSION The study showed that CET both as monotherapy and combined with acamprosate was superior to AAU monotherapy and AAU + acamprosate in reducing alcohol consumption. Only CET + acamprosate was capable of reducing alcohol consumption in the longer term, indicating that anti-craving medication may not impede CET from exerting an effect on alcohol consumption. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02298751 (24/11-2014).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lene Stryhn
- Department of Clinical Research, Unit for Clinical Alcohol Research, Unit for Psychiatric Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Unit for Psychiatric Research, Institute of Regional Health Services Research, University of Southern Denmark, Aabenraa, Denmark.,Psychiatric Research Academy, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mathias Bach Larsen
- Department of Clinical Research, Unit for Clinical Alcohol Research, Unit for Psychiatric Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Unit for Psychiatric Research, Institute of Regional Health Services Research, University of Southern Denmark, Aabenraa, Denmark.,Psychiatric Research Academy, Odense, Denmark
| | - Anna Mejldal
- Department of Clinical Research, Unit for Clinical Alcohol Research, Unit for Psychiatric Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Christian Sibbersen
- Department of Clinical Research, Unit for Clinical Alcohol Research, Unit for Psychiatric Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Dorthe Grüner Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Research, Unit for Clinical Alcohol Research, Unit for Psychiatric Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Bent Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Research, Unit for Clinical Alcohol Research, Unit for Psychiatric Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Anette Søgaard Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Research, Unit for Clinical Alcohol Research, Unit for Psychiatric Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Research, Brain Research-Inter-Disciplinary Guided Excellence (BRIDGE), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Elsebeth Stenager
- Unit for Psychiatric Research, Institute of Regional Health Services Research, University of Southern Denmark, Aabenraa, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Research, Brain Research-Inter-Disciplinary Guided Excellence (BRIDGE), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Angelina Isabella Mellentin
- Department of Clinical Research, Unit for Clinical Alcohol Research, Unit for Psychiatric Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Unit for Psychiatric Research, Institute of Regional Health Services Research, University of Southern Denmark, Aabenraa, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Research, Brain Research-Inter-Disciplinary Guided Excellence (BRIDGE), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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14
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McKee SA, McRae-Clark AL. Consideration of sex and gender differences in addiction medication response. Biol Sex Differ 2022; 13:34. [PMID: 35761351 PMCID: PMC9235243 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00441-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Substance use continues to contribute to significant morbidity and mortality in the United States, for both women and men, more so than another other preventable health condition. To reduce the public health burden attributable to substances, the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism have identified that medication development for substance use disorder is a high priority research area. Furthermore, both Institutes have stated that research on sex and gender differences in substance use medication development is a critical area. The purpose of the current narrative review is to highlight how sex and gender have been considered (or not) in medication trials for substance use disorders to clarify and summarize what is known regarding sex and gender differences in efficacy and to provide direction to the field to advance medication development that is consistent with current NIH 'sex as a biological variable' (SABV) policy. To that end, we reviewed major classes of abused substances (nicotine, alcohol, cocaine, cannabis, opioids) demonstrating that, sex and gender have not been well-considered in addiction medication development research. However, when adequate data on sex and gender differences have been evaluated (i.e., in tobacco cessation), clinically significant differences in response have been identified between women and men. Across the other drugs of abuse reviewed, data also suggest sex and gender may be predictive of outcome for some agents, although the relatively low representation of women in clinical research samples limits making definitive conclusions. We recommend the incorporation of sex and gender into clinical care guidelines and improved access to publicly available sex-stratified data from medication development investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherry A. McKee
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Yale School of Medicine, 2 Church St South, Suite 109, New Haven, CT 06519 USA
| | - Aimee L. McRae-Clark
- grid.259828.c0000 0001 2189 3475Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA
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15
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Ho MF, Zhang C, Wei L, Zhang L, Moon I, Geske JR, Skime MK, Choi DS, Biernacka JM, Oesterle TS, Frye MA, Seppala MD, Karpyak VM, Li H, Weinshilboum RM. Genetic Variants Associated with Acamprosate Treatment Response in Alcohol Use Disorder Patients: A Multiple Omics Study. Br J Pharmacol 2022; 179:3330-3345. [PMID: 35016259 PMCID: PMC9177536 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Purpose Acamprosate is an anti‐craving drug used for the pharmacotherapy of alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, only some patients achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes. This study was designed to explore differences in metabolomic profiles between patients who maintained sobriety and those who relapsed, to determine whether those differences provide insight into variation in acamprosate treatment response phenotypes. Experimental Approach We previously conducted an acamprosate trial involving 442 AUD patients, and 267 of these subjects presented themselves for a 3‐month follow‐up. The primary outcome was abstinence. Clinical information, genomic data and metabolomics data were collected. Baseline plasma samples were assayed using targeted metabolomics. Key Results Baseline plasma arginine, threonine, α‐aminoadipic acid and ethanolamine concentrations were associated with acamprosate treatment outcomes and baseline craving intensity, a measure that has been associated with acamprosate treatment response. We next applied a pharmacometabolomics‐informed genome‐wide association study (GWAS) strategy to identify genetic variants that might contribute to variations in plasma metabolomic profiles that were associated with craving and/or acamprosate treatment outcome. Gene expression data for induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived forebrain astrocytes showed that a series of genes identified during the metabolomics‐informed GWAS were ethanol responsive. Furthermore, a large number of those genes could be regulated by acamprosate. Finally, we identified a series of single nucleotide polymorphisms that were associated with acamprosate treatment outcomes. Conclusion and Implications These results serve as an important step towards advancing our understanding of disease pathophysiology and drug action responsible for variation in acamprosate response and alcohol craving in AUD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Fen Ho
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
| | - Lixuan Wei
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
| | - Lingxin Zhang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
| | - Irene Moon
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
| | - Jennifer R Geske
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics
| | | | - Doo-Sup Choi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
| | - Joanna M Biernacka
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychology
| | | | | | | | | | - Hu Li
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
| | - Richard M Weinshilboum
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.,Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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16
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Abstract
The misuse of alcohol in the United States continues to take a large toll on society, resulting in the deaths of about 88,000 Americans per year. Moreover, it is estimated that nearly 14.6 million Americans currently meet diagnostic criteria for current alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, very few individuals receive treatment, with an even smaller portion receiving medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of AUD, despite scientifically rigorous evidence showing the benefits of combining medication approved for treating AUD with evidence-based behavioral therapy. These benefits include higher rates of abstinence and less risk of relapse to heavy drinking, with associated improvements in medical and mental health and in quality of life. This review provides an overview of FDA-approved medications and “off-label” drugs for the treatment of AUD. The article emphasizes that AUD medical advice and prescription recommendations should come from professionals with training in the treatment of AUD and that treatment plans should consider medication in conjunction with evidence-based behavioral therapy. Finally, this review notes the limited number of medications available and the continued need for the development of new pharmacotherapies to optimize AUD recovery goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara J Mason
- Pearson Center for Alcoholism and Addiction Research, Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California. Center for Human Development, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Charles J Heyser
- Pearson Center for Alcoholism and Addiction Research, Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California. Center for Human Development, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
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17
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Converging vulnerability factors for compulsive food and drug use. Neuropharmacology 2021; 196:108556. [PMID: 33862029 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Highly palatable foods and substance of abuse have intersecting neurobiological, metabolic and behavioral effects relevant for understanding vulnerability to conditions related to food (e.g., obesity, binge eating disorder) and drug (e.g., substance use disorder) misuse. Here, we review data from animal models, clinical populations and epidemiological evidence in behavioral, genetic, pathophysiologic and therapeutic domains. Results suggest that consumption of highly palatable food and drugs of abuse both impact and conversely are regulated by metabolic hormones and metabolic status. Palatable foods high in fat and/or sugar can elicit adaptation in brain reward and withdrawal circuitry akin to substances of abuse. Intake of or withdrawal from palatable food can impact behavioral sensitivity to drugs of abuse and vice versa. A robust literature suggests common substrates and roles for negative reinforcement, negative affect, negative urgency, and impulse control deficits, with both highly palatable foods and substances of abuse. Candidate genetic risk loci shared by obesity and alcohol use disorders have been identified in molecules classically associated with both metabolic and motivational functions. Finally, certain drugs may have overlapping therapeutic potential to treat obesity, diabetes, binge-related eating disorders and substance use disorders. Taken together, data are consistent with the hypotheses that compulsive food and substance use share overlapping, interacting substrates at neurobiological and metabolic levels and that motivated behavior associated with feeding or substance use might constitute vulnerability factors for one another. This article is part of the special issue on 'Vulnerabilities to Substance Abuse'.
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18
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Andersen KAA, Carhart-Harris R, Nutt DJ, Erritzoe D. Therapeutic effects of classic serotonergic psychedelics: A systematic review of modern-era clinical studies. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2021; 143:101-118. [PMID: 33125716 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review of modern-era (post-millennium) clinical studies assessing the therapeutic effects of serotonergic psychedelics drugs for mental health conditions. Although the main focus was on efficacy and safety, study characteristics, duration of antidepressants effects across studies, and the role of the subjective drug experiences were also reviewed and presented. METHOD A systematic literature search (1 Jan 2000 to 1 May 2020) was conducted in PubMed and PsychINFO for studies of patients undergoing treatment with a serotonergic psychedelic. RESULTS Data from 16 papers, representing 10 independent psychedelic-assisted therapy trials (psilocybin = 7, ayahuasca = 2, LSD = 1), were extracted, presented in figures and tables, and narratively synthesized and discussed. Across these studies, a total of 188 patients suffering either cancer- or illness-related anxiety and depression disorders (C/I-RADD), major depressive disorder (MDD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or substance use disorder (SUD) were included. The reviewed studies established feasibility and evidence of safety, alongside promising early data of efficacy in the treatment of depression, anxiety, OCD, and tobacco and alcohol use disorders. For a majority of patients, the therapeutic effects appeared to be long-lasting (weeks-months) after only 1 to 3 treatment session(s). All studies were conducted in line with guidelines for the safe conduct of psychedelic therapy, and no severe adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION The resurrection of clinical psychedelic research provides early evidence for treatment efficacy and safety for a range of psychiatric conditions, and constitutes an exciting new treatment avenue in a health area with major unmet needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristoffer A A Andersen
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Robin Carhart-Harris
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - David J Nutt
- Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - David Erritzoe
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK
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19
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Abstract
The current article provides a brief summary of biopsychosocial gender differences in alcohol use disorder (AUD), then reviews existing literature on gender differences in treatment access, retention, outcomes, and longer-term recovery. Among psychotherapies for AUD, there is support for the efficacy of providing female-specific treatment, and for female-only treatment settings but only when female-specific treatment is included. However, despite mandates from the National Institutes of Health to do so, there is little work thus far that directly compares genders on outcomes of specific psychotherapies or pharmacotherapies for AUD. Although existing research has mixed findings on sex and gender differences in overall outcomes, there are more consistent findings suggesting different mechanisms of behavior change among men and women in AUD treatment and long-term recovery. Thus, more work is needed that attends to gender and sex differences, including planning studies that are structured to examine not only gender-differentiated outcomes in treatment response, but equally important, differences in treatment access and attendance as well as differences in mechanisms of change in drinking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathryn Glanton Holzhauer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.,Division of Research and Education, VA Central Western Massachusetts, Leeds, Massachusetts
| | - Michael Cucciare
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.,VA South Central Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center and Center for Mental Healthcare and Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Elizabeth E Epstein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
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20
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Brabete AC, Greaves L, Hemsing N, Stinson J. Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis in Cannabis Treatment Outcomes: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17030872. [PMID: 32019247 PMCID: PMC7037030 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17030872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
There is evidence that sex- and gender-related factors are involved in cannabis patterns of use, health effects and biological mechanisms. Women and men report different cannabis use disorder (CUD) symptoms, with women reporting worse withdrawal symptoms than men. The objective of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of cannabis pharmacological interventions for women and men and the uptake of sex- and gender-based analysis in the included studies. Two reviewers performed the full-paper screening, and data was extracted by one researcher. The search yielded 6098 unique records—of which, 68 were full-paper screened. Four articles met the eligibility criteria for inclusion. From the randomized clinical studies of pharmacological interventions, few studies report sex-disaggregated outcomes for women and men. Despite emergent evidence showing the influence of sex and gender factors in cannabis research, sex-disaggregated outcomes in pharmacological interventions is lacking. Sex- and gender-based analysis is incipient in the included articles. Future research should explore more comprehensive inclusion of sex- and gender-related aspects in pharmacological treatments for CUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreea C. Brabete
- Centre of Excellence for Women´s Health, E311-4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada; (L.G.); (N.H.); (J.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-514-621-8601
| | - Lorraine Greaves
- Centre of Excellence for Women´s Health, E311-4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada; (L.G.); (N.H.); (J.S.)
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Natalie Hemsing
- Centre of Excellence for Women´s Health, E311-4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada; (L.G.); (N.H.); (J.S.)
| | - Julie Stinson
- Centre of Excellence for Women´s Health, E311-4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada; (L.G.); (N.H.); (J.S.)
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21
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Carpenter JE, LaPrad D, Dayo Y, DeGrote S, Williamson K. An Overview of Pharmacotherapy Options for Alcohol Use Disorder. Fed Pract 2018; 35:48-58. [PMID: 30766325 PMCID: PMC6248154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Clinical trials have found a number of pharmacotherapy options to be effective, but despite the need and the proven benefits, the use of pharmacotherapy remains low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine E Carpenter
- is a Mental Health Clinical Pharmacy Specialist; and are Pharmacy Practice Residents; and is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, all at the Washington DC VA Medical Center. is a Pharmacy Resident at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Florida
| | - Danielle LaPrad
- is a Mental Health Clinical Pharmacy Specialist; and are Pharmacy Practice Residents; and is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, all at the Washington DC VA Medical Center. is a Pharmacy Resident at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Florida
| | - Yewande Dayo
- is a Mental Health Clinical Pharmacy Specialist; and are Pharmacy Practice Residents; and is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, all at the Washington DC VA Medical Center. is a Pharmacy Resident at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Florida
| | - Shannon DeGrote
- is a Mental Health Clinical Pharmacy Specialist; and are Pharmacy Practice Residents; and is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, all at the Washington DC VA Medical Center. is a Pharmacy Resident at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Florida
| | - Kasraie Williamson
- is a Mental Health Clinical Pharmacy Specialist; and are Pharmacy Practice Residents; and is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, all at the Washington DC VA Medical Center. is a Pharmacy Resident at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Florida
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Pradhan G, Melugin PR, Wu F, Fang HM, Weber R, Kroener S. Calcium chloride mimics the effects of acamprosate on cognitive deficits in chronic alcohol-exposed mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018; 235:2027-2040. [PMID: 29679288 PMCID: PMC10766324 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-4900-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Acamprosate (calcium-bis N-acetylhomotaurinate) is the leading medication approved for the maintenance of abstinence, shown to reduce craving and relapse in animal models and human alcoholics. Acamprosate can improve executive functions that are impaired by chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) exposure. Recent work has suggested that acamprosate's effects on relapse prevention are due to its calcium component, which raises the question whether its pro-cognitive effects are similarly mediated by calcium. OBJECTIVES This study examined the effects of acamprosate on alcohol-induced behavioral deficits and compared them with the effects of the sodium salt version of N-acetylhomotaurinate or calcium chloride, respectively. METHODS We exposed mice to alcohol via three cycles of CIE and measured changes in alcohol consumption in a limited-access paradigm. We then compared the effects of acamprosate and calcium chloride (applied subchronically for 3 days during withdrawal) in a battery of cognitive tasks that have been shown to be affected by chronic alcohol exposure. RESULTS CIE-treated animals showed deficits in attentional set-shifting and deficits in novel object recognition. Alcohol-treated animals showed no impairments in social novelty detection and interaction, or delayed spontaneous alternation. Both acamprosate and calcium chloride ameliorated alcohol-induced cognitive deficits to comparable extents. In contrast, the sodium salt version of N-acetylhomotaurinate did not reverse the cognitive deficits. CONCLUSIONS These results add evidence to the notion that acamprosate produces its anti-relapse effects through its calcium moiety. Our results also suggest that improved regulation of drug intake by acamprosate after withdrawal might at least in part be related to improved cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grishma Pradhan
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Rd, BSB14, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Patrick R Melugin
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Rd, BSB14, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Fei Wu
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Rd, BSB14, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
- Institute of Neurobiology, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Hannah M Fang
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Rd, BSB14, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Rachel Weber
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Rd, BSB14, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Sven Kroener
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Rd, BSB14, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA.
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An Association Mapping Framework To Account for Potential Sex Difference in Genetic Architectures. Genetics 2018; 209:685-698. [PMID: 29752291 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.117.300501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past few years, genome-wide association studies have identified many trait-associated loci that have different effects on females and males, which increased attention to the genetic architecture differences between the sexes. The between-sex differences in genetic architectures can cause a variety of phenomena such as differences in the effect sizes at trait-associated loci, differences in the magnitudes of polygenic background effects, and differences in the phenotypic variances. However, current association testing approaches for dealing with sex, such as including sex as a covariate, cannot fully account for these phenomena and can be suboptimal in statistical power. We present a novel association mapping framework, MetaSex, that can comprehensively account for the genetic architecture differences between the sexes. Through simulations and applications to real data, we show that our framework has superior performance than previous approaches in association mapping.
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Perney P, Lehert P. Insomnia in Alcohol-Dependent Patients: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Acamprosate Effect: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. Alcohol Alcohol 2018; 53:611-618. [DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agy013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Perney
- Service d’Addictologie, Hôpital Caremeau, Place du Pr Debré, Nîmes, France
- université Montpellier 1, 2 rue de l'école de Médecine, Montpellier, France
- CESP, UMR 1018, INSERM, UPS, UVSQ. P. Descartes. Hôpital Paul Brousse – Bat 15/16 – 16 avenue PV Couturier 6 Villejuif Cedex, France
| | - Philippe Lehert
- Statistics Department, Faculty of Economics, University of Louvain, 181 chaussée de Binche, Mons, Belgium
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25
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Riley AL, Hempel BJ, Clasen MM. Sex as a biological variable: Drug use and abuse. Physiol Behav 2017; 187:79-96. [PMID: 29030249 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Revised: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The study of sex as a biological variable is a necessary emphasis across a wide array of endpoints, including basic neuroscience, medicine, mental health, physiology and behavior. The present review summarizes work from clinical and preclinical populations on sex differences in drug use and abuse, ranging from initiation to escalation/dysregulation and from drug cessation/abstinence to relapse. These differences are analyzed in the context of the addiction cycle conceptualization of Koob and his colleagues and address patterns of drug use (binge/intoxication), motivation underlying its use (withdrawal/negative affect) and likelihood and causes of craving and relapse of drug taking (preoccupation/anticipation). Following this overview, an assessment of the basis for the reported sex differences is discussed in the context of the affective (rewarding and aversive) properties of drugs of abuse and how such properties and their balance vary with sex and contribute to drug intake. Finally, the interaction of sex with several experiential (drug history) and subject (age) factors and how these interactions affect reward and aversion are discussed to highlight the importance of understanding such interactions in predicting drug use and abuse. We note that sex as a biological variable remains one of critical evaluation and that such investigations of sex differences in drug use and abuse continue and be expanded to assess all facets of their mediation, including these affective properties, how their balance may be impacted by the multiple conditions under which drugs are taken and how this overall balance affects drug use and addiction vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony L Riley
- Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, D.C. 20016, USA.
| | - Briana J Hempel
- Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, D.C. 20016, USA
| | - Matthew M Clasen
- Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, D.C. 20016, USA
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26
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Singh S, Osna NA, Kharbanda KK. Treatment options for alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A review. World J Gastroenterol 2017; 23:6549-6570. [PMID: 29085205 PMCID: PMC5643281 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i36.6549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are serious health problems worldwide. These two diseases have similar pathological spectra, ranging from simple steatosis to hepatitis to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although most people with excessive alcohol or calorie intake display abnormal fat accumulation in the liver (simple steatosis), a small percentage develops progressive liver disease. Despite extensive research on understanding the pathophysiology of both these diseases there are still no targeted therapies available. The treatment for ALD remains as it was 50 years ago: abstinence, nutritional support and corticosteroids (or pentoxifylline as an alternative if steroids are contraindicated). As for NAFLD, the treatment modality is mainly directed toward weight loss and co-morbidity management. Therefore, new pathophysiology directed therapies are urgently needed. However, the involvement of several inter-related pathways in the pathogenesis of these diseases suggests that a single therapeutic agent is unlikely to be an effective treatment strategy. Hence, a combination therapy towards multiple targets would eventually be required. In this review, we delineate the treatment options in ALD and NAFLD, including various new targeted therapies that are currently under investigation. We hope that soon we will be having an effective multi-therapeutic regimen for each disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukhpreet Singh
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, United States
| | - Natalia A Osna
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States
| | - Kusum K Kharbanda
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States
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27
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Spithoff S, Turner S, Gomes T, Martins D, Singh S. First-line medications for alcohol use disorders among public drug plan beneficiaries in Ontario. CANADIAN FAMILY PHYSICIAN MEDECIN DE FAMILLE CANADIEN 2017; 63:e277-e283. [PMID: 28500210 PMCID: PMC5429069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine use of first-line alcohol use disorder (AUD) medications (naltrexone and acamprosate) among public drug plan beneficiaries in the year following an AUD diagnosis. DESIGN Retrospective population-based cohort study. SETTING Ontario. PARTICIPANTS Individuals eligible for public drug plan benefits who had an AUD diagnosis at a hospital visit between April 1, 2011, and March 31, 2012. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Number of AUD medications dispensed to public drug plan beneficiaries who had a recent hospital visit with an AUD diagnosis, and number of prescriptions dispensed per person. RESULTS A total of 10 394 Ontarians between 18 and 65 years of age were identified who had a hospital visit with an AUD diagnosis and were eligible for public drug plan benefits. The rate of AUD medications dispensed in the subsequent year was 3.56 per 1000 population (95% CI 2.51 to 4.91; n = 37). This rate did not differ significantly by sex (P = .83). CONCLUSION Very few public drug plan beneficiaries are dispensed first-line AUD medications in the year following an AUD diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheryl Spithoff
- Family physician and addiction physician at Women's College Hospital in Toronto, Ont, and a lecturer at the University of Toronto.
| | - Suzanne Turner
- Family physician and addiction physician at St Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Ont, and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto
| | - Tara Gomes
- Scientist at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences and in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St Michael's Hospital, and is Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto
| | - Diana Martins
- Epidemiologist, the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences
| | - Samantha Singh
- Research project manager, the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences
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28
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Scofield MD, Heinsbroek JA, Gipson CD, Kupchik YM, Spencer S, Smith ACW, Roberts-Wolfe D, Kalivas PW. The Nucleus Accumbens: Mechanisms of Addiction across Drug Classes Reflect the Importance of Glutamate Homeostasis. Pharmacol Rev 2017; 68:816-71. [PMID: 27363441 DOI: 10.1124/pr.116.012484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 345] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The nucleus accumbens is a major input structure of the basal ganglia and integrates information from cortical and limbic structures to mediate goal-directed behaviors. Chronic exposure to several classes of drugs of abuse disrupts plasticity in this region, allowing drug-associated cues to engender a pathologic motivation for drug seeking. A number of alterations in glutamatergic transmission occur within the nucleus accumbens after withdrawal from chronic drug exposure. These drug-induced neuroadaptations serve as the molecular basis for relapse vulnerability. In this review, we focus on the role that glutamate signal transduction in the nucleus accumbens plays in addiction-related behaviors. First, we explore the nucleus accumbens, including the cell types and neuronal populations present as well as afferent and efferent connections. Next we discuss rodent models of addiction and assess the viability of these models for testing candidate pharmacotherapies for the prevention of relapse. Then we provide a review of the literature describing how synaptic plasticity in the accumbens is altered after exposure to drugs of abuse and withdrawal and also how pharmacological manipulation of glutamate systems in the accumbens can inhibit drug seeking in the laboratory setting. Finally, we examine results from clinical trials in which pharmacotherapies designed to manipulate glutamate systems have been effective in treating relapse in human patients. Further elucidation of how drugs of abuse alter glutamatergic plasticity within the accumbens will be necessary for the development of new therapeutics for the treatment of addiction across all classes of addictive substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Scofield
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina (M.D.S., J.A.H., S.S., D.R.-W., P.W.K.); Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (C.D.G.); Department of Neuroscience, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (Y.M.K.); and Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York (A.C.W.S.)
| | - J A Heinsbroek
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina (M.D.S., J.A.H., S.S., D.R.-W., P.W.K.); Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (C.D.G.); Department of Neuroscience, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (Y.M.K.); and Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York (A.C.W.S.)
| | - C D Gipson
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina (M.D.S., J.A.H., S.S., D.R.-W., P.W.K.); Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (C.D.G.); Department of Neuroscience, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (Y.M.K.); and Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York (A.C.W.S.)
| | - Y M Kupchik
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina (M.D.S., J.A.H., S.S., D.R.-W., P.W.K.); Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (C.D.G.); Department of Neuroscience, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (Y.M.K.); and Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York (A.C.W.S.)
| | - S Spencer
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina (M.D.S., J.A.H., S.S., D.R.-W., P.W.K.); Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (C.D.G.); Department of Neuroscience, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (Y.M.K.); and Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York (A.C.W.S.)
| | - A C W Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina (M.D.S., J.A.H., S.S., D.R.-W., P.W.K.); Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (C.D.G.); Department of Neuroscience, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (Y.M.K.); and Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York (A.C.W.S.)
| | - D Roberts-Wolfe
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina (M.D.S., J.A.H., S.S., D.R.-W., P.W.K.); Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (C.D.G.); Department of Neuroscience, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (Y.M.K.); and Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York (A.C.W.S.)
| | - P W Kalivas
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina (M.D.S., J.A.H., S.S., D.R.-W., P.W.K.); Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (C.D.G.); Department of Neuroscience, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (Y.M.K.); and Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York (A.C.W.S.)
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Randall PA, Stewart RT, Besheer J. Sex differences in alcohol self-administration and relapse-like behavior in Long-Evans rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2017; 156:1-9. [PMID: 28347737 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2017.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorders are a costly public health dilemma. Complicating this issue is the general lack of basic research assessing sex differences in many aspects of alcohol seeking and taking behaviors. The current experiments sought to decrease this gap in our understanding of sex differences in alcohol use disorders by assessing both male and female Long-Evans rats in parallel on alcohol self-administration, relapse-like behavior following abstinence and extinction, and motivation to respond for the standard alcohol solution and a quinine-adulterated alcohol solution. Here, we show that while males tend to have greater alcohol-reinforced responses throughout self-administration training, females show similar or greater alcohol intake (g/kg). Additionally, when tested for reinstatement of alcohol seeking and self-administration, following abstinence or extinction, males consistently showed greater reinstatement responding than females, which may be related to their training history. However, when assessed using the progressive ratio, there were no sex differences in motivation to respond for alcohol. Further, the consistent patterns of responding across months of self-administration training in both males and females, lend support for the feasibility of conducting these studies in male and female rats in parallel without concerns about daily variability. Our data also suggest that males and females should not be pooled as differences in alcohol lever responses and differences in reinstatement, as observed in the current experiments, could affect the overall outcome and possibly confound data interpretation. These studies demonstrate the importance of assessing males and females in parallel and advance the body of preclinical research on sex differences in alcohol self-administration and relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick A Randall
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7178, USA
| | - Robert T Stewart
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7178, USA
| | - Joyce Besheer
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7178, USA; Curriculum in Neurobiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7178, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7178, USA.
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30
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Huang H, Chen H, Dong H, Ning K, Zhang R, Sun W, Li B, Jiang H, Wang W, Du J, Zhao M, Yi Z, Li J, Zhu R, Lu S, Xie S, Wang X, Fu W, Yan R, Gao C, Hao W. Prevalence, correlates and treatment status of alcohol use disorders in psychiatric patients in China. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2017; 45:70-75. [PMID: 28274343 DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2017.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2016] [Revised: 12/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence, associated factors and treatment status of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in psychiatric patients in China. METHODS We asked 24,379 consecutive patients aged ≥18years who presented at the psychiatric departments in eight hospitals in 2013 whether they had consumed alcoholic beverages in the previous month. Of the 2964 (12.2%) patients who answered yes and were then screened with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), 1304 (5.3%) screened positive (AUDIT≥7) and, based on DSM-IV criteria, were diagnosed with AUDs by psychiatrists. The treatments prescribed for them were also recorded. Logistic regression was used to identify AUDs associated factors. RESULTS The prevalence of AUDs was 2.4% (95% CI: 2.2-2.6%). None of the patients diagnosed with AUDs had got medical treatment for preventing relapse. The risk factors for AUDs were middle-aged or elderly (OR=1.86, 95% CI: 1.23-2.80), and consuming beverages with high degree of alcohol content (OR=2.92, 95% CI: 2.11-4.06). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of AUDs in psychiatric patients in China was not high, but the rate of treatment was dramatically low, indicating the serious neglect of AUDs. Our study suggests an urgent need to improve the situation of unmet need for treatment of psychiatric patients with AUDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Huang
- Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, The China National Clinical Research Center for Mental Health Disorders, National Technology Institute of Psychiatry, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, Changsha, PR China
| | - Hongxian Chen
- Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, The China National Clinical Research Center for Mental Health Disorders, National Technology Institute of Psychiatry, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, Changsha, PR China
| | - Huixi Dong
- Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, The China National Clinical Research Center for Mental Health Disorders, National Technology Institute of Psychiatry, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, Changsha, PR China
| | - Kui Ning
- Henan Mental Hospital, Xinxiang, PR China
| | | | - Wei Sun
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, PR China
| | - Bing Li
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, PR China
| | | | | | - Jiang Du
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Min Zhao
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Zhihua Yi
- West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Jing Li
- West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
| | | | | | | | | | - Wei Fu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xian Jiaotong University, Xian, PR China
| | - Runzhi Yan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xian Jiaotong University, Xian, PR China
| | - Chengge Gao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xian Jiaotong University, Xian, PR China
| | - Wei Hao
- Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, The China National Clinical Research Center for Mental Health Disorders, National Technology Institute of Psychiatry, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, Changsha, PR China.
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Addolorato G, Mirijello A, Barrio P, Gual A. Treatment of alcohol use disorders in patients with alcoholic liver disease. J Hepatol 2016; 65:618-30. [PMID: 27155530 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2016.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Revised: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) is one of the leading causes of disease and disability in almost all European countries. Among the alcohol-related diseases, alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the most common. At present, alcohol is the most frequent cause of liver cirrhosis in the Western world. The cornerstone of treatment for ALD is achieving total alcohol abstinence and preventing relapse; medical and surgical treatments for ALD are limited when drinking continues. This narrative review summarizes current treatments for AUDs with a particular emphasis to the treatment of AUDs in patients with ALD. Medical management, psychosocial and pharmacological interventions are analyzed, underlying limits and options in AUD patients. Finally, this review discusses the most appropriate setting for the management of AUD patients with advanced liver disease as well as the indications for liver transplantation in AUD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Addolorato
- Alcohol Use Disorders Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Catholic University of Rome, Italy.
| | - Antonio Mirijello
- Alcohol Use Disorders Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Catholic University of Rome, Italy; Department of Medical Sciences, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy
| | - Pablo Barrio
- Department of Psychiatry, Neurosciences Institute, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antoni Gual
- Department of Psychiatry, Neurosciences Institute, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.
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Abstract
Acamprosate (Campral(®), Aotal(®), Regtect(®)) is one of a limited number of pharmacological treatment options approved as an adjunct to psychosocial interventions to facilitate the maintenance of abstinence in alcohol-dependent patients. It has been used in Europe, the USA and other countries for many years and was recently approved for this indication in Japan. In several randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (without active comparators), acamprosate in conjunction with psychosocial therapy for 3-12 months was generally significantly better than placebo plus psychosocial interventions in improving various key outcomes, including the proportion of patients who maintained complete abstinence from alcohol (complete abstinence rate), the mean cumulative abstinence duration, the percentage of alcohol-free days and the median time to first drink. Acamprosate as an adjunct to psychosocial interventions also demonstrated efficacy in some randomized, active-comparator trials of similar duration. Although results were not always consistent across individual trials, overall findings were generally favourable for acamprosate in a recent meta-analysis, which showed that alcohol-consumption outcomes were similarly improved with acamprosate or naltrexone. Acamprosate is generally well tolerated, has a low propensity for drug interactions and may be used without dosage adjustment in patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment, although dosage adjustments or contraindications are recommended in patients with renal impairment. Thus, the use of acamprosate as an adjunct to psychosocial interventions in alcohol-dependent patients provides modest but potentially valuable improvements in alcohol-consumption outcomes and is generally well tolerated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg L Plosker
- Springer, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, 0754, Auckland, New Zealand,
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33
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Safety and Tolerability of Pharmacological Treatment of Alcohol Dependence: Comprehensive Review of Evidence. Drug Saf 2016; 39:627-45. [DOI: 10.1007/s40264-016-0416-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Abstract
Alcohol use disorders are common in developed countries, where alcohol is cheap, readily available, and heavily promoted. Common, mild disorders often remit in young adulthood, but more severe disorders can become chronic and need long-term medical and psychological management. Doctors are uniquely placed to opportunistically assess and manage alcohol use disorders, but in practice diagnosis and treatment are often delayed. Brief behavioural intervention is effective in primary care for hazardous drinkers and individuals with mild disorders. Brief interventions could also encourage early entry to treatment for people with more-severe illness who are underdiagnosed and undertreated. Sustained abstinence is the optimum outcome for severe disorder. The stigma that discourages treatment seeking needs to be reduced, and pragmatic approaches adopted for patients who initially reject abstinence as a goal. To engage people in one or more psychological and pharmacological treatments of equivalent effectiveness is more important than to advocate a specific treatment. A key research priority is to improve the diagnosis and treatment of most affected people who have comorbid mental and other drug use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason P Connor
- Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Discipline of Psychiatry, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Paul S Haber
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Drug Health Services, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Wayne D Hall
- Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Addictions Department, King's College London, London, UK.
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11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibition as a new potential therapeutic target for alcohol abuse. Transl Psychiatry 2016; 6:e760. [PMID: 26978742 PMCID: PMC4872439 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2016.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Revised: 09/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of new and more effective treatments for alcohol abuse remains a priority. Alcohol intake activates glucocorticoids, which have a key role in alcohol's reinforcing properties. Glucocorticoid effects are modulated in part by the activity of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (11β-HSD) acting as pre-receptors. Here, we tested the effects on alcohol intake of the 11β-HSD inhibitor carbenoxolone (CBX, 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid 3β-O-hemisuccinate), which has been extensively used in the clinic for the treatment of gastritis and peptic ulcer and is active on both 11β-HSD1 and 11β-HSD2 isoforms. We observed that CBX reduces both baseline and excessive drinking in rats and mice. The CBX diastereomer 18α-glycyrrhetinic acid 3β-O-hemisuccinate (αCBX), which we found to be selective for 11β-HSD2, was also effective in reducing alcohol drinking in mice. Thus, 11β-HSD inhibitors may be a promising new class of candidate alcohol abuse medications, and existing 11β-HSD inhibitor drugs may be potentially re-purposed for alcohol abuse treatment.
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Erol A, Karpyak VM. Sex and gender-related differences in alcohol use and its consequences: Contemporary knowledge and future research considerations. Drug Alcohol Depend 2015; 156:1-13. [PMID: 26371405 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 533] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2015] [Revised: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
AIMS To review the contemporary evidence reflecting male/female differences in alcohol use and its consequences along with the biological (sex-related) and psycho-socio-cultural (gender-related) factors associated with those differences. METHODS MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, and CINAHL databases were searched for relevant publications, which were subsequently screened for the presence/absence of pre-specified criteria for high quality evidence. RESULTS Compared to men, more women are lifetime abstainers, drink less, and are less likely to engage in problem drinking, develop alcohol-related disorders or alcohol withdrawal symptoms. However, women drinking excessively develop more medical problems. Biological (sex-related) factors, including differences in alcohol pharmacokinetics as well as its effect on brain function and the levels of sex hormones may contribute to some of those differences. In addition, differences in alcohol effects on behavior may also be driven by psycho-socio-cultural (gender-related) factors. This is evident by variation in the magnitude of differences in alcohol use between countries, decreasing difference in the rates of alcohol consumption in recent generations and other findings. Evidence indicates that both sex and gender-related factors are interacting with alcohol use in complex manner, which differentially impacts the risk for development of the behavioral or medical problems and alcohol use disorders in men and women. CONCLUSIONS Discovery of the mechanisms underlying biological (sex-related) as well as psycho-socio-cultural (gender-related) differences in alcohol use and related disorders is needed for development of personalized recommendations for prevention and treatment of alcohol use disorders and related problems in men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Almila Erol
- Department of Psychiatry, Ataturk Education and Research Hospital, Basinsitesi, Izmir 35250, Turkey; Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, 200 First Stret SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
| | - Victor M Karpyak
- Department of Psychiatry, Ataturk Education and Research Hospital, Basinsitesi, Izmir 35250, Turkey.
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García MLG, Blasco-Algora S, Fernández-Rodríguez CM. Alcohol liver disease: A review of current therapeutic approaches to achieve long-term abstinence. World J Gastroenterol 2015; 21:8516-8526. [PMID: 26229395 PMCID: PMC4515834 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i28.8516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Revised: 05/07/2015] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Harmful alcohol drinking may lead to significant damage on any organ or system of the body. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the most prevalent cause of advanced liver disease in Europe. In ALD, only alcohol abstinence was associated with a better long-term survival. Therefore, current effective therapeutic strategy should be oriented towards achieving alcohol abstinence or a significant reduction in alcohol consumption. Screening all primary care patients to detect those cases with alcohol abuse has been proposed as population-wide preventive intervention in primary care. It has been suggested that in patients with mild alcohol use disorder the best approach is brief intervention in the primary care setting with the ultimate goal being abstinence, whereas patients with moderate-to-severe alcohol use disorder must be referred to specialized care where detoxification and medical treatment of alcohol dependence must be undertaken.
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Körkel J. Kontrolliertes Trinken bei Alkoholkonsumstörungen: Eine systematische Übersicht. SUCHT 2015. [DOI: 10.1024/0939-5911.a000367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Hintergrund: Verhaltenstherapeutische Behandlungen zum selbstkontrollierten Trinken (KT) wurden in den letzten 50 Jahren vielfältig erforscht. Eine aktuelle Übersicht über den gegenwärtigen Status dieses Ansatzes liegt nicht vor. Fragestellung: Es wird ein systematischer Überblick über die Konzept- und Forschungsgeschichte des KT (Definition, theoretische Wurzeln, Behandlungsmethoden), Wirksamkeit von KT-Behandlung (inkl. Prognosefaktoren) sowie Implementierung von KT in das Behandlungssystem (Akzeptanz und Verbreitung) vorgenommen. Methodik: Gemäß den PRISMA Richtlinien wurde in den Datenbanken PsycINFO, Medline und Psyndex nach psychologischen Behandlungen zum selbstkontrollierten Alkoholkonsum bei Menschen mit klinisch relevanten Alkoholproblemen recherchiert und 676 einschlägige Beiträge identifiziert. Ergebnisse: KT wird als regelgeleitet-planvoller Alkoholkonsum definiert. Seine theoretischen Wurzeln reichen von Lerntheorien bis zur Psychologie der Selbstregulation. In der Behandlung haben Behavioral Self-Control Trainings frühere Methoden (z. B. aversive Konditionierung, Kontingenzmanagement und Reizexposition) abgelöst. Einzel und Gruppenbehandlungen sowie Selbsthilfemanuale zum KT erweisen sich über das gesamte Spektrum des problematischen Alkoholkonsums als kurz- und langfristig wirksam zur Reduktion des Alkoholkonsums und alkoholassoziierter Probleme wie auch zur Förderung des Übergangs zur Abstinenz. Prognostisch bedeutsam sind v. a. der Zielentscheid des Patienten pro KT und seine Zuversicht in die Realisierbarkeit von KT. Akzeptanz und Verbreitung von KT haben in den letzten Jahrzehnten zugenommen und variieren u. a. länderspezifisch. Schlussfolgerungen: Angesichts der Wirksamkeit von KT-Behandlungen sowie gesundheitspolitischer, ethischer, therapeutischer und ökonomischer Überlegungen sollten Reduktionsbehandlungen gleichrangig neben Abstinenzbehandlungen in ein zieloffen ausgerichtetes Behandlungssystem integriert werden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Körkel
- Evangelische Hochschule Nürnberg, Institut für innovative Suchtbehandlung und Suchtforschung, Nürnberg
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Hu W, Morris B, Carrasco A, Kroener S. Effects of acamprosate on attentional set-shifting and cellular function in the prefrontal cortex of chronic alcohol-exposed mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2015; 39:953-61. [PMID: 25903298 PMCID: PMC10782929 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) inhibits impulsive and compulsive behaviors that characterize drug abuse and dependence. Acamprosate is the leading medication approved for the maintenance of abstinence, shown to reduce craving and relapse in animal models and human alcoholics. Whether acamprosate can modulate executive functions that are impaired by chronic ethanol (EtOH) exposure is unknown. Here we explored the effects of acamprosate on an attentional set-shifting task and tested whether these behavioral effects are correlated with modulation of glutamatergic synaptic transmission and intrinsic excitability of mPFC neurons. METHODS We induced alcohol dependence in mice via chronic intermittent EtOH (CIE) exposure in vapor chambers and measured changes in alcohol consumption in a limited access 2-bottle choice paradigm. Impairments of executive function were assessed in an attentional set-shifting task. Acamprosate was applied subchronically for 2 days during withdrawal before the final behavioral test. Alcohol-induced changes in cellular function of layer 5/6 pyramidal neurons, and the potential modulation of these changes by acamprosate, were measured using patch clamp recordings in brain slices. RESULTS Chronic EtOH exposure impaired cognitive flexibility in the attentional set-shifting task. Acamprosate improved overall performance and reduced perseveration. Recordings of mPFC neurons showed that chronic EtOH exposure increased use-dependent presynaptic transmitter release and enhanced postsynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor function. Moreover, CIE treatment lowered input resistance, and decreased the threshold and the after hyperpolarization of action potentials, suggesting chronic EtOH exposure also impacted membrane excitability of mPFC neurons. However, acamprosate treatment did not reverse these EtOH-induced changes cellular function. CONCLUSIONS Acamprosate improved attentional control of EtOH exposed animals, but did not alter the concurrent changes in synaptic transmission or membrane excitability of mPFC neurons, indicating that these changes are not the pharmacological targets of acamprosate in the recovery of mPFC functions affected by chronic EtOH exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Hu
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas
| | - Brett Morris
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas
| | - Angelique Carrasco
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas
| | - Sven Kroener
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas
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Pharmacotherapy for alcohol dependence: A stratified approach. Pharmacol Ther 2015; 153:10-24. [PMID: 25985735 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2015.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol dependence is a common disorder in many societies worldwide, and remains difficult to identify and treat. It is also a risk factor for many secondary non-communicable diseases. Pharmacotherapy is one available treatment option, but appears to be underutilised in practice. Major barriers to use of medications in this area include lack of clinical guidance and questionable efficacy. However, for each medication there appears to be a subpopulation that responds positively, and understanding the moderating factors to treatment efficacy is an important research goal. Thus, this review provides a narrative regarding potential stratification techniques in pharmacological treatment of alcohol dependence, with a specific focus on typologies and pharmacogenetics. In addition, we discuss the basic background of stratified medicine and recent studies on genetic predisposition to alcohol dependence. A growing repository of data exists for both approved and non-approved pharmacotherapies, but failure to replicate findings, inadequate sample sizes, and insufficient funding has resulted in a translational gap. Implementing evidence-based stratified/personalised therapy and identifying new therapeutic agents may lead to improved clinical outcomes and reduced financial burden. Despite some promising findings to date, much work is still required.
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Rao PSS, Bell RL, Engleman EA, Sari Y. Targeting glutamate uptake to treat alcohol use disorders. Front Neurosci 2015; 9:144. [PMID: 25954150 PMCID: PMC4407613 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcoholism is a serious public health concern that is characterized by the development of tolerance to alcohol's effects, increased consumption, loss of control over drinking and the development of physical dependence. This cycle is often times punctuated by periods of abstinence, craving and relapse. The development of tolerance and the expression of withdrawal effects, which manifest as dependence, have been to a great extent attributed to neuroadaptations within the mesocorticolimbic and extended amygdala systems. Alcohol affects various neurotransmitter systems in the brain including the adrenergic, cholinergic, dopaminergic, GABAergic, glutamatergic, peptidergic, and serotonergic systems. Due to the myriad of neurotransmitter and neuromodulator systems affected by alcohol, the efficacies of current pharmacotherapies targeting alcohol dependence are limited. Importantly, research findings of changes in glutamatergic neurotransmission induced by alcohol self- or experimenter-administration have resulted in a focus on therapies targeting glutamatergic receptors and normalization of glutamatergic neurotransmission. Glutamatergic receptors implicated in the effects of ethanol include the ionotropic glutamate receptors (AMPA, Kainate, and NMDA) and some metabotropic glutamate receptors. Regarding glutamatergic homeostasis, ceftriaxone, MS-153, and GPI-1046, which upregulate glutamate transporter 1 (GLT1) expression in mesocorticolimbic brain regions, reduce alcohol intake in genetic animal models of alcoholism. Given the hyperglutamatergic/hyperexcitable state of the central nervous system induced by chronic alcohol abuse and withdrawal, the evidence thus far indicates that a restoration of glutamatergic concentrations and activity within the mesocorticolimbic system and extended amygdala as well as multiple memory systems holds great promise for the treatment of alcohol dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- P S S Rao
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Richard L Bell
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Eric A Engleman
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Youssef Sari
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo Toledo, OH, USA
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Park TW, Friedmann PD. Medications for addiction treatment: an opportunity for prescribing clinicians to facilitate remission from alcohol and opioid use disorders. RHODE ISLAND MEDICAL JOURNAL (2013) 2014; 97:20-24. [PMID: 25271655 PMCID: PMC4406629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Substance use disorders are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Medications for the treatment of substance use disorders are effective yet underutilized. This article reviews recent literature examining medications used for the treatment of alcohol and opioid use disorders. The neurobehavioral rationale for medication treatment and the most common ways medications work in the treatment of substance use disorders are discussed. Finally, the medications and the evidence behind their effectiveness are briefly reviewed. Physicians and other prescribing clinicians should take an active role in facilitating remission and recovery from substance use disorders by prescribing these effective medications with brief medical management counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Woo Park
- Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Alpert Medical School and Rhode Island Hospital
| | - Peter D Friedmann
- Professor of Medicine, Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Alpert Medical School, Rhode Island Hospital and Providence Veteran Affairs Medical Center
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Suk KT, Kim MY, Baik SK. Alcoholic liver disease: Treatment. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20:12934-12944. [PMID: 25278689 PMCID: PMC4177474 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i36.12934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2013] [Revised: 03/30/2014] [Accepted: 05/29/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The excess consumption of alcohol is associated with alcoholic liver diseases (ALD). ALD is a major healthcare problem, personal and social burden, and significant reason for economic loss worldwide. The ALD spectrum includes alcoholic fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. The diagnosis of ALD is based on a combination of clinical features, including a history of significant alcohol intake, evidence of liver disease, and laboratory findings. Abstinence is the most important treatment for ALD and the treatment plan varies according to the stage of the disease. Various treatments including abstinence, nutritional therapy, pharmacological therapy, psychotherapy, and surgery are currently available. For severe alcoholic hepatitis, corticosteroid or pentoxifylline are recommended based on the guidelines. In addition, new therapeutic targets are being under investigation.
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Kufahl PR, Watterson LR, Olive MF. The development of acamprosate as a treatment against alcohol relapse. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2014; 9:1355-69. [PMID: 25258174 DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2014.960840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Globally, alcohol abuse and dependence are significant contributors to chronic disease and injury and are responsible for nearly 4% of all deaths annually. Acamprosate (Campral), one of only three pharmacological treatments approved for the treatment of alcohol dependence, has shown mixed efficacy in clinical trials in maintaining abstinence of detoxified alcoholics since studies began in the 1980s. Yielding inconsistent results, these studies have prompted skepticism. AREAS COVERED Herein, the authors review the preclinical studies which have assessed the efficacy of acamprosate in various animal models of alcohol dependence and discuss the disparate findings from the major clinical trials. Moreover, the authors discuss the major limitations of these preclinical and clinical studies and offer explanations for the often-contradictory findings. The article also looks at the importance of the calcium moiety that accompanies the salt form of acamprosate and its relevance to its activity. EXPERT OPINION The recent discovery that large doses of calcium largely duplicate the effects of acamprosate in animal models has introduced a serious challenge to the widely held functional association between this drug and the glutamate neurotransmission system. Future research on acamprosate or newer pharmacotherapeutics should consider assessing plasma and/or brain levels of calcium as a correlate or mediating factor in anti-relapse efficacy. Further, preclinical research on acamprosate has thus far lacked animal models of chemical dependence on alcohol, and the testing of rodents with histories of alcohol intoxication and withdrawal is suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter R Kufahl
- Arizona State University, Behavioral Neuroscience Area, Department of Psychology , Tempe, AZ 85287 , USA
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A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessing the efficacy of varenicline tartrate for alcohol dependence. J Addict Med 2014; 7:277-86. [PMID: 23728065 DOI: 10.1097/adm.0b013e31829623f4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy and safety of varenicline (Chantix) for the treatment of alcohol dependence. Varenicline is a partial α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine agonist approved by the Food and Drug Administration for smoking cessation. It has reduced drinking in animal studies and in small studies of humans who were both heavy drinkers and smokers. This is the first multisite clinical trial of varenicline in a population of smokers and nonsmokers with alcohol dependence. METHODS Men and women (n = 200) meeting the criteria for alcohol dependence were recruited across 5 clinical sites. Patients received double-blind varenicline or placebo and a computerized behavioral intervention. Varenicline was titrated during the first week to 2 mg/d, which was maintained during weeks 2 to 13. RESULTS The varenicline group had significantly lower weekly percent heavy drinking days (primary outcome) (adjusted mean difference = 10.4), drinks per day, drinks per drinking day, and alcohol craving compared with the placebo group (P < 0.05). The average treatment effect on alcohol use was similar for smokers and nonsmokers. Varenicline was well-tolerated; adverse events were expected and mild. CONCLUSIONS Varenicline significantly reduced alcohol consumption and craving, making it a potentially viable option for the treatment of alcohol dependence.
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Abstract
Alcoholism results in about 2.5 million deaths annually worldwide, representing 4% of all mortality. Although alcoholism is associated with more than 60 diseases, most mortality from alcoholism results from alcoholic liver disease (ALD). ALD includes alcoholic steatosis, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic cirrhosis, in order of increasing severity. Important scoring systems of ALD severity include: Child-Pugh, a semi-quantitative scoring system useful to roughly characterize clinical severity; model for end-stage liver disease, a quantitative, objective scoring system used for prognostication and prioritization for liver transplantation; and discriminant function, used to determine whether to administer corticosteroids for alcoholic hepatitis. Abstinence is the cornerstone of ALD therapy. Psychotherapies, including twelve-step facilitation therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and motivational enhancement therapy, help support abstinence. Disulfiram decreases alcohol consumption by causing unpleasant sensations after drinking alcohol from accumulation of acetaldehyde in serum, but disulfiram can be hepatotoxic. Adjunctive pharmacotherapies to reduce alcohol consumption include naltrexone, acamprosate, and baclofen. Nutritional therapy helps reverse muscle wasting, weight loss, vitamin deficiencies, and trace element deficiencies associated with ALD. Although reduced protein intake was previously recommended for advanced ALD to prevent hepatic encephalopathy, a diet containing 1.2-1.5 g of protein/kg per day is currently recommended to prevent muscle wasting. Corticosteroids are first-line therapy for severe alcoholic hepatitis (discriminant function ≥ 32), but proof of their efficacy in decreasing mortality remains elusive. Pentoxifylline is an alternative therapy. Complications of advanced ALD include ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, esophageal variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, hepatopulmonary syndrome, and portopulmonary hypertension. Alcoholic cirrhotics have increased risk of developing hepatomas. Liver transplantation is the ultimate therapy for severe ALD, but generally requires 6 mo of proven abstinence for eligibility. Alcoholic cirrhotics who maintain abstinence generally have a relatively favorable prognosis after liver transplantation.
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Acamprosate: an alcoholism treatment that may not be what we thought. Neuropsychopharmacology 2014; 39:781-2. [PMID: 24518272 PMCID: PMC3924516 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2013.272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2013] [Accepted: 09/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Increased extracellular glutamate in the nucleus accumbens promotes excessive ethanol drinking in ethanol dependent mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2014; 39:707-17. [PMID: 24067300 PMCID: PMC3895249 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2013.256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2013] [Revised: 08/02/2013] [Accepted: 08/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Using a well-established model of ethanol dependence and relapse, this study examined adaptations in glutamatergic transmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and their role in regulating voluntary ethanol drinking. Mice were first trained to drink ethanol in a free-choice, limited access (2 h/day) paradigm. One group (EtOH mice) received repeated weekly cycles of chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) exposure with intervening weeks of test drinking sessions, whereas the remaining mice (CTL mice) were similarly treated but did not receive CIE treatment. Over repeated cycles of CIE exposure, EtOH mice exhibited significant escalation in drinking (up to ∼3.5 g/kg), whereas drinking remained relatively stable at baseline levels (2-2.5 g/kg) in CTL mice. Using in vivo microdialysis procedures, extracellular glutamate (GLUEX) levels in the NAc were increased approximately twofold in EtOH mice compared with CTL mice, and this difference was observed 7 days after final CIE exposure, indicating that this hyperglutamatergic state persisted beyond acute withdrawal. This finding prompted additional studies examining the effects of pharmacologically manipulating GLUEX in the NAc on ethanol drinking in the CIE model. The non-selective glutamate reuptake antagonist, threo-β-benzyloxyaspartate (TBOA), was bilaterally microinjected into the NAc and found to dose-dependently increase drinking in nondependent (CTL) mice to levels attained by dependent (EtOH) mice. TBOA also further increased drinking in EtOH mice. In contrast, reducing glutamatergic transmission in the NAc via bilateral injections of the metabotropic glutamate receptor-2/3 agonist LY379268 reduced drinking in dependent (EtOH) mice to nondependent (CTL) levels, whereas having a more modest effect in decreasing ethanol consumption in CTL mice. Taken together, these data support an important role of glutamatergic transmission in the NAc in regulating ethanol drinking. Additionally, these results indicate that ethanol dependence produces adaptations that favor elevated glutamate activity in the NAc which, in turn, promote excessive levels of ethanol consumption associated with dependence.
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Caputo F, Vignoli T, Grignaschi A, Cibin M, Addolorato G, Bernardi M. Pharmacological management of alcohol dependence: from mono-therapy to pharmacogenetics and beyond. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2014; 24:181-91. [PMID: 24182622 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2013.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2013] [Revised: 10/06/2013] [Accepted: 10/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Almost 10% of the world's population is affected by alcohol use disorders, and the treatment of alcohol dependence (AD) still remains a challenge. Patients with AD can differ in many traits. Three drugs (disulfiram, naltrexone, and acamprosate) have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of AD, and in some European countries sodium oxybate is also approved for this purpose. Combined pharmacological therapy has not provided such convincing results. Considering the fact that the "ideal" and effective drug for all types of alcoholic patients does not exists, the future challenge will be to identify a personalized approach. Recent data has shown that this objective can be achieved by investigating the genetic variability of the patient. Moreover, the use of replacement molecules can probably be considered an advantageous therapeutic opportunity (i.e. sodium oxybate). In addition, reduction of alcohol consumption is increasingly accepted as a viable treatment goal, and the use of nalmefene "as-needed" (a pharmacological approach similar to naltrexone, but, possibly, with lower hepatotoxicity) may help in the treatment of AD. Thus, it is important to stress that a pharmacological approach to treat AD should be preceded by the definition of patient characteristics; this may help in the choice of the most appropriate drug and it can be done more easily when more pharmacological options approved for the treatment of AD are also available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Caputo
- Department of Internal Medicine, SS Annunziata Hospital, Cento, Ferrara, Italy; "G. Fontana" Centre for the Study and Multidisciplinary Treatment of Alcohol Addiction, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy.
| | - Teo Vignoli
- Unit for Addiction Treatment, Department of Mental Health, Lugo, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Alice Grignaschi
- "G. Fontana" Centre for the Study and Multidisciplinary Treatment of Alcohol Addiction, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Mauro Cibin
- Department of Addictive Behaviours, Dolo, Venice, Italy
| | | | - Mauro Bernardi
- "G. Fontana" Centre for the Study and Multidisciplinary Treatment of Alcohol Addiction, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy
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Abstract
Alcohol dependence encompasses a serious medical and societal problem that constitutes a major public health concern. A serious consequence of dependence is the emergence of symptoms associated with the alcohol withdrawal syndrome when drinking is abruptly terminated or substantially reduced. Clinical features of alcohol withdrawal include signs of central nervous system hyperexcitability, heightened autonomic nervous system activation, and a constellation of symptoms contributing to psychologic discomfort and negative affect. The development of alcohol dependence is a complex and dynamic process that ultimately reflects a maladaptive neurophysiologic state. Perturbations in a wide range of neurochemical systems, including glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid, monoamines, a host of neuropeptide systems, and various ion channels produced by the chronic presence of alcohol ultimately compromise the functional integrity of the brain. These neuroadaptations not only underlie the emergence and expression of many alcohol withdrawal symptoms, but also contribute to enhanced relapse vulnerability as well as perpetuation of uncontrolled excessive drinking. This chapter highlights the hallmark features of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome, and describes neuroadaptations in a wide array of neurotransmitter and neuromodulator systems (amino acid and monoamine neurotransmitter, neuropeptide systems, and various ion channels) as they relate to the expression of various signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, as well as their relationship to the significant clinical problem of relapse and uncontrolled dangerous drinking.
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