Drugs for relapse prevention of alcoholism: ten years of progress.

Abstract

Multiple neurochemical pathways are involved in mediating craving and relapse to alcohol. Opioidergic and glutamatergic systems have a key role in alcoholism, as demonstrated by the clinically effective compounds naltrexone and acamprosate acting through these systems. The dopaminergic system has long featured in alcoholism research; hitherto disappointing results from clinical studies could improve following the discovery that dopamine D3 receptor antagonism produces consistent and robust results in preclinical studies. Corticotropin-releasing factor signalling and the endocannabinoid system integrate stress-related events and thereby mediate relapse behaviour. Overall, these new targets have yielded several compounds that are undergoing clinical testing. However, the heterogeneity in treatment response makes it necessary to characterize genetic and protein markers and endophenotypes for individualized pharmacotherapy.

• Authors: Rainer Spanagel, Falk Kiefer
• Journal: Trends in pharmacological sciences (Trends Pharmacol Sci) Vol. 29 Issue 3 Pg. 109-15 (Mar 2008) ISSN: 0165-6147 [Print] England
• PMID: 18262663 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Alcohol Deterrents
• Dopamine Antagonists
• Narcotic Antagonists

Topics

• Alcohol Deterrents (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Alcoholism (drug therapy, metabolism, psychology)
• Animals
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dopamine Antagonists (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Narcotic Antagonists (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Secondary Prevention
• Stress, Psychological (metabolism, prevention & control)