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Falleni A, Abelleira A, Hieber R. "It's been a long time since I drank like that": A case report of binge drinking associated with aripiprazole. Ment Health Clin 2024; 14:212-214. [PMID: 38835817 PMCID: PMC11147655 DOI: 10.9740/mhc.2024.06.212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Aripiprazole has been linked to the development of impulse control problems (ICPs), most commonly gambling. Aripiprazole's effect on serotonergic and dopaminergic pathways has had mixed results on drinking behaviors. A male patient receiving outpatient psychiatric care presented with ongoing symptoms of depression on his current regimen of mirtazapine and gabapentin. Aripiprazole was chosen for augmentation after multiple failed trials of alternative medications. Within 3 weeks the patient discontinued the medication due to escalating binge-drinking behavior. This behavior resolved within 3 days after discontinuing aripiprazole. Individuals who engage in binge drinking demonstrate consistent impulse control deficits that are unrelated to the rewarding effects of alcohol. Aripiprazole may be related to this patient's return to binge drinking from an ICP standpoint rather than driven by alcohol cravings as other psychosocial factors remained stable throughout this time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Falleni
- (Corresponding author) Health Professions, Education, Evaluation, and Research Fellow, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut,
| | - Audrey Abelleira
- Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner, Veterans Integrated Services Network 1 Clinical Resource Hub, West Haven, Connecticut
| | - Robin Hieber
- Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner and Clinical Pharmacy Program Manager, Veterans Integrated Services Network 23 Clinical Resource Hub, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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2
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Schacht JP, Kubicki M, Anton RF. A randomized trial of the effects of COMT inhibition on subjective response to alcohol: Moderation by baseline COMT activity and mediation of alcohol self-administration. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 48:178-187. [PMID: 38206282 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Poor inhibitory control and enhanced subjective response to alcohol are interrelated risk factors for alcohol use disorder (AUD) that share underlying neural substrates, including dopamine signaling in the right prefrontal cortex, a potential target for pharmacological intervention. Cortical dopamine inactivation is primarily regulated by catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), an enzyme with large variation in activity as a function of the COMT rs4680 (val158met) single nucleotide polymorphism. In a previous randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the COMT inhibitor tolcapone (200 mg TID) in non-treatment-seeking participants with AUD, we found that tolcapone, relative to placebo, reduced alcohol self-administration only among rs4680 val-allele homozygotes, whose COMT activity is higher than in met-allele carriers. METHODS We conducted secondary analyses of the effects of tolcapone and baseline COMT activity, as indexed by both rs4680 genotype and an enzymatic activity assay, on the subjective response to alcohol in a bar-laboratory paradigm among 60 participants in the previous trial. RESULTS Tolcapone did not affect alcohol-induced stimulation or sedation more than placebo. However, baseline COMT activity moderated the effects of the drug on both outcomes, such that tolcapone-treated participants with higher baseline COMT activity had less stimulation (p = 0.008) and sedation (p = 0.053) than participants with lower baseline COMT activity and those treated with placebo. Additionally, alcohol-induced stimulation significantly mediated the interacting effects of baseline COMT activity and tolcapone on bar-laboratory self-administration. CONCLUSIONS Tolcapone may reduce subjective response to alcohol more effectively among individuals with preexisting high COMT activity an effect that could account for the drug's reduction of alcohol consumption among these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph P Schacht
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Matthew Kubicki
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Raymond F Anton
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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3
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Kranzler HR, Hartwell EE. Medications for treating alcohol use disorder: A narrative review. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 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] [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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Fischler PV, Soyka M, Seifritz E, Mutschler J. Off-label and investigational drugs in the treatment of alcohol use disorder: A critical review. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:927703. [PMID: 36263121 PMCID: PMC9574013 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.927703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Compounds known to be successful in the treatment of alcohol use disorder include the aversive agent, Disulfiram, the glutamatergic NMDA receptor antagonist, Acamprosate, and the opioid receptor antagonists, Naltrexone and Nalmefene. Although all four are effective in maintaining abstinence or reduction of alcohol consumption, only a small percentage of patients receive pharmacological treatment. In addition, many other medications have been investigated for their therapeutic potential in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. In this review we summarize and compare Baclofen, Gabapentin, Topiramate, Ondansetron, Varenicline, Aripiprazole, Quetiapine, Clozapine, Antidepressants, Lithium, Neuropeptide Y, Neuropeptide S, Corticotropin-releasing factor antagonists, Oxytocin, PF-05190457, Memantine, Ifenprodil, Samidorphan, Ondelopran, ABT-436, SSR149415, Mifepristone, Ibudilast, Citicoline, Rimonabant, Surinabant, AM4113 and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate While some have shown promising results in the treatment of alcohol use disorder, others have disappointed and should be excluded from further investigation. Here we discuss the most promising results and highlight medications that deserve further preclinical or clinical study. Effective, patient-tailored treatment will require greater understanding provided by many more preclinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Valentin Fischler
- Department for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Women’s Clinic Lucerne, Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Pascal Valentin Fischler,
| | - Michael Soyka
- Psychiatric Hospital University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Erich Seifritz
- Director of the Clinic for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Clinic Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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Vatsalya V, Kong M, Marsano LM, Kurlawala Z, Chandras KV, Schwandt ML, Ramchandani VA, McClain CJ. Interaction of Heavy Drinking Patterns and Depression Severity Predicts Efficacy of Quetiapine Fumarate XR in Lowering Alcohol Intake in Alcohol Use Disorder Patients. SUBSTANCE ABUSE-RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2020; 14:1178221820955185. [PMID: 32963470 PMCID: PMC7488613 DOI: 10.1177/1178221820955185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background: Shared etiological pathways of dopamine and serotonin neurotransmission play
a central role in heavy alcohol intake and exacerbation in the symptoms of
depression. We investigated the treatment efficacy of Quetiapine fumarate extended
release (XR) in lowering alcohol intake in alcohol use disorder (AUD)
patients indicated by the shared alleviation of depression ratings and
patterns of heavy drinking. Methods: Hundred and eight male and female heavy drinking AUD patients in the age
range of 18 to 64 years. participated in a randomized clinical trial (RCT)
to receive 12 weeks of quetiapine XR or placebo (N = 115). Participants were
sub-grouped by the severity grading of depression using Montgomery-Asberg
Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) (clinically relevant ⩾8 [CR], clinically
non-relevant ⩽7 [CNR]) at baseline in both the groups. Drinking history and
depression ratings were assessed at the patients’ visits. Results: Heavy drinking days (HDD) and total drinks (TD) were significantly fewer in
CR patients at the treatment end. A true positive response in AUROC analysis
supported the lowering of TD in CR patients. The number of drinking days
(NDD) and average drinks per drinking day (AvgD) were lower in the CNR
patients at treatment-end. Significant associations with increasing effect
sizes were observed for all the heavy drinking measures (HDD, TD, NDD, and
AvgD) and MADRS scores by the end of the treatment course. Conclusions: Baseline elevated depressive symptoms could likely predict the course of
heavy alcohol drinking during the treatment, and efficacy outcome of a
treatment. AUD patients with baseline clinically significant depression had
a progressive lowering in heavy drinking markers significantly corresponding
to the lowering of depression symptoms by the end of treatment with
Quetiapine fumarate XR. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT#0049862 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00498628?term=litten&draw=2&rank=3)
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Affiliation(s)
- Vatsalya Vatsalya
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.,Robley Rex VA Medical Center, Louisville, KY, USA.,National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Maiying Kong
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, University of Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Luis M Marsano
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Zimple Kurlawala
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, KY, USA
| | | | - Melanie L Schwandt
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Craig J McClain
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.,Robley Rex VA Medical Center, Louisville, KY, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, KY, USA.,University of Louisville Alcohol Research Center, Louisville, KY, USA.,Hepatobiology & Toxicology Program, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
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DeMartini KS, Pittman B, Krystal JH, O'Malley SS, Krishnan-Sarin S. Examining the Relationship Between Self-Reported Drinking and In-Laboratory Drinking and Craving: Is There Concordance? Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2020; 44:1151-1157. [PMID: 32352581 PMCID: PMC10158572 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In-laboratory drinking sessions that allow direct assessment of drinking and craving are an emerging method for testing novel pharmacotherapy compounds and behavioral interventions for alcohol use disorders. Despite wide implementation, limited evidence supports the concordance between drinking in the laboratory and in a natural setting. This study examined the relationship between self-reports of drinking prior to and drinking and craving during an alcohol drinking paradigm (ADP). METHODS Participants were adult heavy drinkers (N = 64) who participated in a pharmacotherapy study. Participants completed self-report alcohol assessments and a baseline ADP session prior to any medication administration. Alcohol craving was assessed during priming and ad lib ADP phases. Outcomes were the associations of total drinks consumed in-laboratory and summary drinking measures for the 30 days prior to the ADP and reports of maximum drinks (past year and lifetime). Additional outcomes were the association of self-reported drinking and alcohol craving during the ADP and the concordance between self-report and ADP World Health Organization (WHO) drinking classifications. RESULTS Number of drinking days, average drinks per drinking occasion, and lifetime and past-year maximum drinks were all related to drinking in the laboratory. Heavy drinking days were not related to drinking in the laboratory but were associated with ADP craving. Alcohol craving was also associated with other measures of self-reported drinking. There was also a significant association between WHO drinking risk classification and in-laboratory drinking. CONCLUSIONS The observed relationships between self-reported drinking and drinking in-laboratory across drinking indices suggest that in-laboratory alcohol consumption may reflect participants' real-world alcohol consumption, supporting the value of laboratory-based drinking paradigms. The demonstrated relationship with self-reported drinking and ADP alcohol craving further supports the value of such paradigms to model key drinking predictors. These results provide support for the validity of laboratory-based paradigms to accurately reflect participants' recent drinking levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly S DeMartini
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Brian Pittman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - John H Krystal
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
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Once-Monthly Long-Acting Injectable Aripiprazole for the Treatment of Patients with Schizophrenia and Co-occurring Substance Use Disorders: A Multicentre, Observational Study. Drugs Real World Outcomes 2020; 7:75-83. [PMID: 32026379 PMCID: PMC7060971 DOI: 10.1007/s40801-020-00178-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To evaluate the efficacy and impact of long-acting injectable (LAI) aripiprazole in patients with schizophrenia with a coexisting substance use disorder (SUD). PATIENTS AND METHODS A multicenter, observational, descriptive and retrospective study was conducted in patients with a DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia who had a coexisting SUD and were treated with LAI-aripiprazole. Disease severity was evaluated with the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) severity scale for schizophrenia, daily functioning and disability were evaluated with the World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Scale (WHODAS-2.0), and the severity of the addiction was evaluated with the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS). RESULTS The sample included 40 patients. Overall, after 6 months of treatment with LAI-aripiprazole at a dose of 400 mg/4 weeks in 77.5% of the patients, we observed significant improvement in the psychopathological symptoms, with a reduction of over 30% in the scores of the five CGI-severity scales. The WHODAS-2.0 mean (standard deviation) score was also significantly reduced from 57.6 (8.2) to 42.3 (4.3) points (p < 0.001). Regarding SUDs, after 6 months of treatment, substance use was stopped in 5 of the 9 patients with cocaine use disorder and in 3 of the 16 patients with alcohol abuse disorder. A significant reduction in the severity of the dependence was observed only in the subgroups of participants with cocaine and alcohol use disorders. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that once-monthly LAI-aripiprazole retains its antipsychotic efficacy in patients with schizophrenia and a coexisting SUD and could be useful for the management of cocaine or alcohol use disorders in this population.
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8
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Neurochemical Evidence of Preclinical and Clinical Reports on Target-Based Therapy in Alcohol Used Disorder. Neurochem Res 2020; 45:491-507. [PMID: 31898084 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-019-02944-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic relapsing disorder, which enforces a person to compulsively seek alcohol, restricting control over alcohol intake leads to emergence of an undesired emotional state during abstinence. There are recent advances for better understanding of neurocircuitry involved in the pathophysiology of AUD. Alcohol interaction with neuronal membrane proteins results in changes in neuronal circuits. It is also linked with the potential medication and their clinical validation concerning their pharmacological targets for alcoholic abstinence. This review covers research work from the past few decades on the therapeutic advances on treatment of alcohol dependence; further detailing the fundamental neurochemical mechanisms after alcohol administration. It also covers interaction of alcohol with GABAergic, glutaminergic, dopaminergic, serotonergic and opioid systems. This review further elaborated the neurobiology of noradrenergic, cholinergic and cannabinoid systems and their interaction with AUD. Elaborative information of potential drug targets under current exploration for AUD treatment with their mechanisms are reported here along with clinical outcomes and the associated side effects.
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Influence of combined treatment with naltrexone and memantine on alcohol drinking behaviors: a phase II randomized crossover trial. Neuropsychopharmacology 2020; 45:319-326. [PMID: 31590179 PMCID: PMC6901445 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-019-0536-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Glutamate and opioid systems play important roles in alcohol drinking behaviors. We examined if combined treatment with the NMDA antagonist memantine and the opioid antagonist naltrexone, when compared with naltrexone alone, would have a greater influence on alcohol drinking behaviors. Fifty-six, non-treatment-seeking heavy drinkers, with alcohol dependence and a positive family history (FHP) of alcoholism, participated in a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial, including two 6-8 days treatment periods, separated by a 6-day washout, and 3 alcohol drinking paradigm (ADP) sessions. After the first baseline (BAS) ADP1 session, participants were randomized to receive either naltrexone (NTX; 50 mg/day) + placebo memantine, or NTX (50 mg/day) + memantine (MEM; 20 mg/day), during the first treatment period, following which they completed ADP2. After a 6-day washout, participants were crossed over to the treatment they did not receive during the first treatment period, following which they completed ADP3. During each ADP, participants received a priming drink of alcohol followed by 3 1-hour, self-administration periods during which they had ad-lib access to 12 drinks. Individually, both NTX and NTX + MEM, when compared to BAS ADP1, significantly reduced the number of drinks consumed (p's < 0.001) and craving (p's < 0.001). When comparing NTX + MEM vs. NTX on number of drinks consumed, there was a significant treatment* sequence interaction (p = 0.004). Specifically, when NTX + MEM followed NTX alone, NTX + MEM resulted in a further reduction in drinking (mean: -1.94; 95% CI: -2.6, -0.8, p = 0.0005). However, when NTX alone followed NTX + MEM, NTX alone did not lead to further reduction in drinking (mean: 0.59; 95% CI: -0.67, 1.43, p = 0.47). Similar patterns were observed for alcohol craving; specifically, a significant reduction in craving was observed when NTX + MEM followed NTX alone (p = 0.009), but craving reduction was maintained when NTX + MEM was followed by NTX alone. Neither treatment condition significantly influenced alcohol-induced stimulation or sedation. Memantine (at a dose of 20 mg/day) enhances the efficacy of naltrexone (50 mg/day) in reducing alcohol drinking and craving among FHP drinkers with beneficial effects that appear to carryover after discontinuation of memantine treatment.
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Effects of the monoamine stabilizer (-)OSU6162 on cognitive function in alcohol dependence. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:69-82. [PMID: 31628507 PMCID: PMC6952337 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05345-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alcohol dependence (AD) is associated with a dysregulated mesolimbocortical dopamine system-a pathway which is also implicated in both reward and cognition. The monoamine stabilizer (-)-OSU6162 (OSU) is a novel pharmacological compound with the ability to reduce ethanol intake and ethanol seeking in long-term drinking rats as well as reducing alcohol craving in AD patients. Dopaminergic drugs can both impair and improve cognitive functions, and the aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of OSU treatment on cognitive functioning in AD patients. METHOD In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study, 56 individuals with AD received 14 days of OSU or placebo treatment. Neuropsychological tasks from the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery (CANTAB®) and other tasks were used to evaluate treatment effect on executive function/impulsivity, working memory, attention, emotional recognition, and divergent thinking. RESULTS Treatment with OSU did not impair neuropsychological function in any of the cognitive domains investigated (all p > 0.1). In fact, OSU treatment did, compared to placebo, improve future planning ability (F(1,46) = 6.9; p = 0.012; Cohen's d = 0.54), verbal divergent thinking (F(1,44) = 10.1; p = 0.003; d = 0.96), and response time for emotional recognition (F(1,47) = 6.7; p = 0.013; d = 0.44). CONCLUSION OSU treatment did not cause short-term cognitive side effects, further supporting the potential of OSU as a clinically feasible pharmacological treatment in AD patients. OSU treatment might improve future planning, verbal divergent thinking, and emotional recognition latency, which in turn may have a beneficial impact on alcohol use outcomes. Future studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
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Kurata T, Hashimoto T, Suzuki H. Concurrent, successful management of bipolar I disorder with comorbid alcohol dependence via aripiprazole long-acting injection: A case report. Neuropsychopharmacol Rep 2019; 39:238-240. [PMID: 31325244 PMCID: PMC7292293 DOI: 10.1002/npr2.12072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol dependence is frequently comorbid with bipolar I disorder. Aripiprazole and its long-acting injection have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment and prevention of bipolar I disorder and its attendant symptoms, especially manic episodes. However, whether aripiprazole can alleviate alcohol dependence remains controversial. We report the case of a 47-year-old woman who had been diagnosed with bipolar I disorder and alcohol dependence, characterized by poor adherence to pharmacological treatment and our hospital's alcoholic treatment program. Consequently, she was repeatedly hospitalized several times per year due to manic episodes and heavy drinking. After treatment with aripiprazole long-acting injection at a dosage of 400 mg/mo intramuscularly, she has been relapse-free for over 2 years. Aripiprazole long-acting injection might therefore be effective for treating patients with bipolar disorder and a comorbid diagnosis of alcohol dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsutomu Kurata
- Department of PsychiatrySodegaura Satsukidai HospitalSodegauraJapan
| | - Tasuku Hashimoto
- Department of PsychiatrySodegaura Satsukidai HospitalSodegauraJapan
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of MedicineChiba UniversityChibaJapan
| | - Hitoshi Suzuki
- Department of PsychiatrySodegaura Satsukidai HospitalSodegauraJapan
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Haass-Koffler CL, Goodyear K, Zywiak WH, Leggio L, Kenna GA, Swift RM. Comparing and Combining Topiramate and Aripiprazole on Alcohol-Related Outcomes in a Human Laboratory Study. Alcohol Alcohol 2018; 53:268-276. [PMID: 29281033 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agx108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of topiramate up to 200 mg/day and of aripiprazole up to 15 mg/day, alone and combined, in reducing alcohol-related outcomes in a human laboratory study. Method This was a 5 week, between-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled human laboratory study with topiramate [0 mg/day (placebo), 100 mg/day, 200 mg/day] and aripiprazole [0 mg/day (placebo), 7.5 mg/day, 15 mg/day] in 90 non-treatment seeking, heavy drinking, alcohol-dependent individuals. Main outcomes were the efficacy of 200 mg/day topiramate and 15 mg/day aripiprazole, alone and combined, in reducing drinks consumed during an alcohol self-administration procedure (human laboratory phase) and while receiving the study medications prior to the laboratory session (naturalistic drinking phase). Other outcomes in the laboratory phase included alcohol craving, and alcohol biphasic effects. Results In the human laboratory phase, topiramate 200 mg/day reduced alcohol craving [**P < 0.01] and amplified alcohol-induced stimulation [*P < 0.05], but did not reduce the number of drinks consumed. Topiramate 200 mg/day was also effective in reducing drinking days [*P < 0.05], and alcohol craving [*P < 0.05], in the naturalistic drinking phase. No significant findings were found for aripiprazole for any of the outcomes analyzed. Conclusion Participants receiving 200 mg/day topiramate reported reduced alcohol drinking and craving, and increased alcohol-related stimulation. These findings provide further support for the role of topiramate as a pharmacological treatment for AUD. ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier NCT00884884. Short Summary This study tested topiramate and aripiprazole alone and in combination. The results replicate past findings and suggest that topiramate may be an effective treatment for alcohol use disorder. The present results suggest that the combination of topiramate and aripiprazole do not warrant further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina L Haass-Koffler
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA.,Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA.,Section on Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive (10CRC/15330), Bethesda, MD 20892-1108, USA
| | - Kimberly Goodyear
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA.,Section on Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive (10CRC/15330), Bethesda, MD 20892-1108, USA
| | - William H Zywiak
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Lorenzo Leggio
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA.,Section on Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive (10CRC/15330), Bethesda, MD 20892-1108, USA
| | - George A Kenna
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Robert M Swift
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA.,Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 830 Chalkstone Ave, Providence, RI 02908, USA
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Ferguson LB, Harris RA, Mayfield RD. From gene networks to drugs: systems pharmacology approaches for AUD. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018; 235:1635-1662. [PMID: 29497781 PMCID: PMC6298603 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-4855-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The alcohol research field has amassed an impressive number of gene expression datasets spanning key brain areas for addiction, species (humans as well as multiple animal models), and stages in the addiction cycle (binge/intoxication, withdrawal/negative effect, and preoccupation/anticipation). These data have improved our understanding of the molecular adaptations that eventually lead to dysregulation of brain function and the chronic, relapsing disorder of addiction. Identification of new medications to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD) will likely benefit from the integration of genetic, genomic, and behavioral information included in these important datasets. Systems pharmacology considers drug effects as the outcome of the complex network of interactions a drug has rather than a single drug-molecule interaction. Computational strategies based on this principle that integrate gene expression signatures of pharmaceuticals and disease states have shown promise for identifying treatments that ameliorate disease symptoms (called in silico gene mapping or connectivity mapping). In this review, we suggest that gene expression profiling for in silico mapping is critical to improve drug repurposing and discovery for AUD and other psychiatric illnesses. We highlight studies that successfully apply gene mapping computational approaches to identify or repurpose pharmaceutical treatments for psychiatric illnesses. Furthermore, we address important challenges that must be overcome to maximize the potential of these strategies to translate to the clinic and improve healthcare outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura B Ferguson
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station A4800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
- Intitute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - R Adron Harris
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station A4800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Roy Dayne Mayfield
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station A4800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
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Dopaminergic Genetic Variation Influences Aripiprazole Effects on Alcohol Self-Administration and the Neural Response to Alcohol Cues in a Randomized Trial. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:1247-1256. [PMID: 29362512 PMCID: PMC5916367 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 12/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) signaling regulates many aspects of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). However, clinical studies of dopaminergic medications, including the DA partial agonist aripiprazole (APZ), have been inconsistent, suggesting the possibility of a pharmacogenetic interaction. This study examined whether variation in DA-related genes moderated APZ effects on reward-related AUD phenotypes. The interacting effects of APZ and a variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in DAT1/SLC6A3 (the gene encoding the DA transporter (DAT)) were tested. In addition, interactions between APZ and a genetic composite comprising the DAT1 VNTR and functional polymorphisms in catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), DRD2, and DRD4 were evaluated. Ninety-four non-treatment-seeking individuals with AUD were genotyped for these polymorphisms, randomized to APZ (titrated to 15 mg) or placebo for 8 days, and underwent an fMRI alcohol cue-reactivity task (day 7; n=81) and a bar lab paradigm (day 8). Primary outcomes were alcohol cue-elicited ventral striatal (VS) activation and the number of drinks consumed in the bar lab. DAT1 genotype significantly moderated medication effects, such that APZ, relative to placebo, reduced VS activation and bar-lab drinking only among carriers of the DAT1 9-repeat allele, previously associated with lower DAT expression and greater reward-related brain activation. The genetic composite further moderated medication effects, such that APZ reduced the primary outcomes more among individuals who carried a larger number of DAT1, COMT, DRD2, and DRD4 alleles associated with higher DA tone. Taken together, these data suggest that APZ may be a promising AUD treatment for individuals with a genetic predisposition to higher synaptic DA tone.
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Mason BJ. Emerging pharmacotherapies for alcohol use disorder. Neuropharmacology 2017; 122:244-253. [PMID: 28454983 PMCID: PMC5643030 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2017] [Revised: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The identification of different stages within the alcohol use disorder (AUD) cycle that are linked to neurocircuitry changes in pathophysiology associated with the negative emotional states of abstinence has provided a view of medication development for AUD that emphasizes changes in the brain reward and stress systems. Alcohol use disorder can be defined as a chronic relapsing disorder that involves compulsive alcohol seeking and taking, loss of control over alcohol intake, and emergence of a negative emotional state during abstinence. The focus of early medications development was to block the motivation to seek alcohol in the binge/intoxication stage. More recent work has focused on reversing the motivational dysregulations associated with the withdrawal/negative affect and preoccupation/anticipation stages during protracted abstinence. Advances in our understanding of the neurocircuitry and neuropharmacological mechanisms that are involved in the development and maintenance of the withdrawal/negative affect stage using validated animal models have provided viable targets for future medications. Another major advance has been proof-of-concept testing of potential therapeutics and clinical validation of relevant pharmacological targets using human laboratory models of protracted abstinence. This review focuses on future targets for medication development associated with reversal of the loss of reward function and gain in brain stress function that drive negative reinforcement in the withdrawal/negative affect stage of addiction. Basic research has identified novel neurobiological targets associated with the withdrawal/negative affect stage and preoccupation/anticipation stage, with a focus on neuroadaptive changes within the extended amygdala that account for the transition to dependence and vulnerability to relapse. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled "Alcoholism".
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara J Mason
- The Pearson Center on Alcoholism and Addiction Research, Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, TPC-5 La Jolla, CA 92037 USA.
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Anton RF, Schacht JP, Voronin KE, Randall PK. Aripiprazole Suppression of Drinking in a Clinical Laboratory Paradigm: Influence of Impulsivity and Self-Control. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2017; 41:1370-1380. [PMID: 28493623 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aspects of impulsivity have been implicated in the development, or maintenance, of alcohol use disorder (AUD). The brain dopamine system is implicated in both reward processing/memory (typically subcortical) and in brain inhibitory control mechanisms (typically cortical). Using a validated clinical laboratory paradigm, the dopamine/serotonin "stabilizing" drug, aripiprazole was evaluated in non-treatment-seeking AUD individuals based on their level of impulsivity/self-control. METHODS Ninety-nine individuals (77% male; mean age 27; 7.5 drinks per day; 83% heavy drinking days) meeting DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence were randomized to aripiprazole (N = 47 evaluable) or placebo (N = 48 evaluable) based on their Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) score (above or below 68). Aripiprazole, or similar placebo, was titrated to 15 mg over 8 days. Drinking was recorded over 6 days under natural conditions. On Day 8, after 1 day of required abstinence, individuals participated in a bar laboratory paradigm that included a priming drink (breath alcohol concentration [BAC] target 0.02 to 0.03 g/dl) and free-choice consumption of up to 8 drinks (max BAC 0.1 g/dl) in exchange for a "bar credit" of $2 per drink (max $16). End points were drinks per day under natural conditions and drinks consumed in the bar laboratory after the priming drink. RESULTS There was no significant main effect of aripiprazole or interaction with BIS-11 score during the natural drinking period. However, there was a main effect of aripiprazole on bar laboratory drinking (p = 0.04) and aripiprazole reduced the total number of drinks consumed more among individuals with low self-control (p = 0.034) and increased latency to consume those drinks (p = 0.045) more among those with high impulsivity. Relative to placebo, aripiprazole caused more side effects and increased alcohol-induced sedation, but neither significantly influenced its interaction with impulsivity/self-control scores on drinking. CONCLUSIONS This paradigm forced a choice between immediate drinking reward and delayed monetary reward. In those with high impulsivity and/or low self-control, aripiprazole shifts the balance away from immediate drinking toward a later reward. Medications targeting cortical dopamine/serotonin balance might show clinical benefit of reduced drinking, among individuals with impulsivity/low self-control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond F Anton
- Alcohol Research Center, Addictions Science Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Joseph P Schacht
- Alcohol Research Center, Addictions Science Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Konstantin E Voronin
- Alcohol Research Center, Addictions Science Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Patrick K Randall
- Alcohol Research Center, Addictions Science Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
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Tomko RL, Bountress KE, Gray KM. Personalizing substance use treatment based on pre-treatment impulsivity and sensation seeking: A review. Drug Alcohol Depend 2016; 167:1-7. [PMID: 27515725 PMCID: PMC5037032 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Revised: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Theoretically, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment that matches an individual's etiology and/or maintaining factors should be more effective than a treatment that does not directly address these factors. Impulsivity and sensation/reward seeking may contribute to the development and maintenance of SUDs, and are potential candidate variables for assigning patients to treatment. The goal is to identify whether current research can provide insight into which treatments may be most effective for individuals high in impulsivity or sensation seeking, relative to other treatments. A secondary goal is to provide recommendations for personalizing SUD treatment based on etiology or maintaining factors. METHOD This review summarizes clinical trials that speak to the differential effectiveness of two or more treatments for alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use disorders, based on pre-treatment impulsivity, sensation seeking, or related constructs. RESULTS Few studies examine the differential effectiveness of two or more treatments for individuals high in impulsivity or sensation seeking. Very preliminary evidence suggests that contingency management may hold promise for individuals high in impulsivity. Pharmacological trials were under-represented in the current review, despite evidence that the effectiveness of some pharmacological interventions may be moderated by impulsivity. CONCLUSIONS Potential reasons for slow rate of progress to date are provided. Given slow accumulation of evidence, an alternative method for personalizing treatment based on pre-treatment psychosocial factors, including impulsivity and sensation/reward seeking, is proposed. Future research may explore the role of contingency management for SUD among individuals with high pre-treatment impulsivity or sensation seeking. Finally, novel, technology-enhanced behavioral mechanisms are discussed as an adjunct to SUD treatment for these high-risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Tomko
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Kaitlin E Bountress
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Kevin M Gray
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
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Boyd SJ, Schacht JP, Prisciandaro JJ, Voronin K, Anton RF. Alcohol-Induced Stimulation Mediates the Effect of a GABRA2 SNP on Alcohol Self-Administrated among Alcohol-Dependent Individuals. Alcohol Alcohol 2016; 51:549-54. [PMID: 27117237 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agw024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2015] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in GABRA2 (rs279858) may moderate subjective response (SR) to alcohol. Results of studies in non-dependent drinkers examining this GABRA2 SNP on SR have been equivocal. This study examined this SNP's direct and indirect effects on alcohol self-administration in dependent drinkers. METHOD The sample consisted of 63 Caucasian, non-treatment-seeking individuals with alcohol dependence. Subjective stimulation was assessed using the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale following consumption of an alcoholic priming drink (target breath alcohol content = 0.02 g%). Participants were subsequently offered the opportunity to self-administer up to eight additional drinks. RESULTS Controlling for baseline stimulation, T-allele homozygotes, relative to individuals with at least one copy of the C-allele, reported greater initial stimulation, t(58) = 2.011, p = 0.049. Greater stimulation predicted greater subsequent alcohol self-administration, t(57) = 2.522, p = 0.015. Although rs279858 genotype did not directly impact self-administration (t(57) = -0.674, p = 0.503), it did have an indirect effect (95% confidence interval [0.068, 1.576]), such that T-allele homozygotes reported greater stimulation, which in turn predicted greater self-administration. CONCLUSION These results suggest that the influence of this SNP on SR differs depending on dose or stage of dependence. This study is the first to demonstrate an indirect effect of rs279858 genotype on drinking through SR. Although C-allele carriers have been shown to have an increased risk for alcohol dependence, in our dependent sample, greater stimulation was found among T-allele homozygotes, suggesting that the influence of SR on developing and maintaining dependence differs based on rs279858 genotype.This study demonstrates an indirect effect of rs279858 genotype on drinking through SR. Although C-allele carriers have an increased risk for alcohol dependence, in our dependent sample, greater stimulation was found among T-allele homozygotes, suggesting that the influence of SR on developing dependence differs based on rs279858 genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Boyd
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Joseph P Schacht
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - James J Prisciandaro
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Konstantin Voronin
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Raymond F Anton
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
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Martinotti G, Orsolini L, Fornaro M, Vecchiotti R, De Berardis D, Iasevoli F, Torrens M, Di Giannantonio M. Aripiprazole for relapse prevention and craving in alcohol use disorder: current evidence and future perspectives. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2016; 25:719-28. [DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2016.1175431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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20
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Krishnan-Sarin S, O'Malley SS, Franco N, Cavallo DA, Morean M, Shi J, Pittman B, Krystal JH. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonism has differential effects on alcohol craving and drinking in heavy drinkers. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2015; 39:300-7. [PMID: 25664775 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, memantine (0, 20, 40 mg/d), upon alcohol drinking and craving in heavy drinkers with or without a family history (FH) of alcoholism, and to explore the modulatory influence of the presence of impulsivity on these outcomes. METHODS Ninety-two, nontreatment-seeking, heavy drinkers received memantine or placebo for 8 days. On the eighth day, they received a priming dose of alcohol followed by a 3-hour period of alcohol access. RESULTS Memantine at a dose of 20 mg reduced alcohol craving but did not influence alcohol drinking. No effects of FH were observed. In participants with higher baseline levels of impulsivity, 40 mg of memantine reduced alcohol craving but increased alcohol drinking and alcohol-induced stimulation. CONCLUSIONS NMDA receptor signaling may play divergent roles in mediating alcohol cue-induced craving and alcohol drinking in heavy drinkers. The potential efficacy of memantine as monotherapy for alcohol use disorders may be limited by its tendency to disinhibit drinking in some individuals.
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Abstract
Clinical experience with aripiprazole has confirmed the effectiveness and the safety of this novel antipsychotic drug in patients with schizophrenia as well as for the treatment of mania in type I bipolar disorder. However the generalization of the results from clinical trials requires further effort in order to address some issues and to overcome incorrect and partial interpretation of the clinical evidence. This article provides some straightforward guidance that may help clinical psychiatrists to translate the mechanism of action of aripiprazole into clinical setting, thus improving the appropriate use of the drug through rational application of its pharmacological profile. Examples of paradigmatic clinical situations are presented and discussed, suggesting possible intervention strategies, which may contribute to achieving the most appropriate use of the pharmacological properties of aripiprazole in real life settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Di Sciascio
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital "Policlinico", Bari, Italy
| | - Marco Andrea Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Wackernah RC, Minnick MJ, Clapp P. Alcohol use disorder: pathophysiology, effects, and pharmacologic options for treatment. Subst Abuse Rehabil 2014; 5:1-12. [PMID: 24648792 PMCID: PMC3931699 DOI: 10.2147/sar.s37907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use disorders (AUD) continue to be a concerning health issue worldwide. Harmful alcohol use leads to 2.5 million deaths annually worldwide. Multiple options exist for the management of dependence on alcohol, not all of which are approved by drug-regulating agencies. Current practice in treating AUD does not reflect the diversity of pharmacologic options that have potential to provide benefit, and guidance for clinicians is limited. Few medications are approved for treatment of AUD, and these have exhibited small and/or inconsistent effects in broad patient populations with diverse drinking patterns. The need for continued research into the treatment of this disease is evident in order to provide patients with more specific and effective options. This review describes the neurobiological mechanisms of AUD that are amenable to treatment and drug therapies that target pathophysiological conditions of AUD to reduce drinking. In addition, current literature on pharmacologic (both approved and non-approved) treatment options for AUD offered in the United States and elsewhere are reviewed. The aim is to inform clinicians regarding the options for alcohol abuse treatment, keeping in mind that not all treatments are completely successful in reducing craving or heavy drinking or increasing abstinence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin C Wackernah
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions, Regis University, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Matthew J Minnick
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions, Regis University, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Peter Clapp
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions, Regis University, Denver, CO, USA
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Han DH, Kim SM, Choi JE, Min KJ, Renshaw PF. Adjunctive aripiprazole therapy with escitalopram in patients with co-morbid major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence: clinical and neuroimaging evidence. J Psychopharmacol 2013; 27:282-91. [PMID: 23325372 PMCID: PMC4651436 DOI: 10.1177/0269881112472563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The effective treatment of depression has been reported to reduce the severity of alcohol use, potentially reflecting improvements in common brain reward circuits. We hypothesized that augmentation therapy of escitalopram with aripiprazole would improve depressive symptoms as well as reduce craving for alcohol and cue-induced brain activity in patients with co-morbid alcohol dependence and major depressive disorder, compared with treatment with escitalopram alone. Thirty-five subjects with major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence were recruited and randomly assigned into 17 aripiprazole + escitalopram and 18 escitalopram only groups. At baseline and following six weeks of treatment, symptoms of depression, craving for alcohol and brain activity were evaluated. During the six week treatment period, Beck Depression Inventory and clinical global index-severity (CGI-S) scores decreased in both the aripiprazole + escitalopram and escitalopram only groups. In addition, following the treatment period, the Korean alcohol urge questionnaire scores in the aripiprazole + escitalopram group were reduced from 23.3±8.4 to 14.3±4.9, compared with those of the escitalopram group of from 21.6±8.4 to 19.3±7.1 (F=13.1, p<0.01). The activity within the anterior cingulate was increased in response to the presentation of alcohol drinking scenes following treatment in the aripiprazole + escitalopram group. The change of brain activity within the left anterior cingulate gyrus in all patients with co-morbid alcohol dependence and major depressive disorder was negatively correlated with the change in craving for alcohol. These findings suggest that the effects of aripiprazole on anterior cingulate cortex might mediate the successful treatment of alcohol dependence in patients with major depressive disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doug Hyun Han
- Department of Psychiatry, Chung Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Mi Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Chung Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Eun Choi
- Department of Psychiatry, Eunpyeong Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Joon Min
- Department of Psychiatry, Chung Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Gianoli MO, Jane JS, O'Brien E, Ralevski E. Treatment for comorbid borderline personality disorder and alcohol use disorders: a review of the evidence and future recommendations. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 2012; 20:333-44. [PMID: 22686496 PMCID: PMC3697118 DOI: 10.1037/a0027999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
There is a high degree of comorbidity between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and alcohol use disorders (AUDs). There is some evidence that this pattern of comorbidity may be associated with poorer prognosis. Although there are many different psychotherapeutic and pharmacological treatments for BPD and AUDs when they occur alone, there are very few treatment options when they occur together. The objective of this article was to review the existing treatment options-both psychotherapeutic and pharmacological-for patients with dual diagnoses of BPD and AUDs and to explore alternative treatment options that warrant further study. There have been a number of studies that have examined the efficacy of specific psychotherapies targeting drinking among patients with comorbid BPD; however, their efficacy in reducing BPD symptoms is unknown. There are also three psychotherapies that were specifically developed for patients with BPD and substance use disorders (SUDs), but only one of these (Dynamic Deconstructive Psychotherapy) has been tested among patients with dual diagnoses of BPD and AUDs. Research on pharmacotherapy for dual diagnoses of BPD and AUD is scarce, and no study has yet explored medication options that can concurrently manage symptoms of BPD and decrease alcohol consumption. Interestingly, there is growing evidence that anticonvulsants and second generation antipsychotics, the recent medications of choice for the management of BPD symptoms, may also reduce alcohol craving and consumption. Although premature, these findings are encouraging especially for this population of patients for whom treatment options are very limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayumi O Gianoli
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
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25
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Anton RF, Voronin KK, Randall PK, Myrick H, Tiffany A. Naltrexone modification of drinking effects in a subacute treatment and bar-lab paradigm: influence of OPRM1 and dopamine transporter (SLC6A3) genes. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2012; 36:2000-7. [PMID: 22551036 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2012.01807.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2011] [Accepted: 02/22/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Naltrexone is moderately effective for the treatment of alcohol dependence, but there is great individual variability. The opioid receptor (OPRM1) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) asn40asp has been shown to alter alcohol and naltrexone response in animals and humans. In addition, the brain opioid and dopamine systems interact and might underlie drinking and craving. This study investigated the effects of the OPRM1 SNP and dopamine transporter (DAT) variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) genetic differences on drinking, alcohol effects, and naltrexone response under controlled conditions in nontreatment-seeking alcoholics. METHODS Two hundred and sixty-five nontreatment-seeking individuals with alcohol dependence were genotyped a priori for the OPRM1 asn40asp SNP and post hoc for DAT (SLC6A3) 9 and 10 VNTRs. Asp40 carriers (n = 43) and matched asn40 homozygotes (n = 40) were randomized to naltrexone or placebo for 7 days before receiving a priming drink and limited-access alcohol consumption in a bar-lab setting. Effects of genotypes on natural drinking as well as drinking, alcohol effects, and response to naltrexone in the bar-lab setting were examined by genotype. RESULTS There were no significant main effects of naltrexone or OPRM1 genotype, or any medication by OPRM1 interaction, on drinking variables. However, in individuals who had at least one DAT 9 VNTR, and who were also OPRM1 asn40 homozygotes, naltrexone reduced drinks/d consumed under natural conditions (p = 0.006), but not in the bar-lab. OPRM1 asn40 homozygotes (p = 0.028) and DAT 9 VNTR carriers (p = 0.032) had more stimulation to alcohol after the priming drink. CONCLUSIONS This study does not support a salient role for the OPRM1 asp40 alone in predicting drinking or naltrexone effects. However, although exploratory and in need of replication, it introduces the possibility that epistasis between the OPRM1 gene and DAT gene might need to be taken into account when examining differential genetic response to alcohol or medication treatment, especially in early-stage alcoholics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond F Anton
- Institute of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President St., Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
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Litten RZ, Fertig JB, Falk DE, Ryan ML, Mattson ME, Collins JF, Murtaugh C, Ciraulo D, Green AI, Johnson B, Pettinati H, Swift R, Afshar M, Brunette MF, Tiouririne NAD, Kampman K, Stout R. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of quetiapine fumarate XR in very heavy-drinking alcohol-dependent patients. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2011; 36:406-16. [PMID: 21950727 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2011.01649.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite advances in developing medications to treat alcohol dependence, few such medications have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Identified molecular targets are encouraging and can lead to the development and testing of new compounds. Atypical antipsychotic medications have been explored with varying results. Prior research suggests that the antipsychotic quetiapine may be beneficial in an alcohol-dependent population of very heavy drinkers. METHODS In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 224 alcohol-dependent patients who reported very heavy drinking were recruited across 5 clinical sites. Patients received either quetiapine or placebo and Medical Management behavioral intervention. Patients were stratified on gender, clinical site, and reduction in drinking prior to randomization. RESULTS No differences between the quetiapine and placebo groups were detected in the primary outcome, percentage heavy-drinking days, or other drinking outcomes. Quetiapine significantly reduced depressive symptoms and improved sleep but had no effect on other nondrinking outcomes. Results from a subgroup analysis suggest that patients who reduced their drinking prior to randomization had significantly better drinking outcomes during the maintenance phase (p < 0.0001). No significant interactions, however, were observed between reducer status and treatment group. Finally, quetiapine was generally well tolerated. Statistically significant adverse events that were more common with quetiapine versus placebo include dizziness (14 vs. 4%), dry mouth (32 vs. 9%), dyspepsia (13 vs. 2%), increased appetite (11 vs. 1%), sedation (15 vs. 3%), and somnolence (34 vs. 9%). CONCLUSIONS This multisite clinical trial showed no efficacy for quetiapine compared with placebo at reducing alcohol consumption in heavy-drinking alcohol-dependent patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raye Z Litten
- Division of Treatment and Recovery Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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Diana M. The dopamine hypothesis of drug addiction and its potential therapeutic value. Front Psychiatry 2011; 2:64. [PMID: 22144966 PMCID: PMC3225760 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2011] [Accepted: 11/02/2011] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) transmission is deeply affected by drugs of abuse, and alterations in DA function are involved in the various phases of drug addiction and potentially exploitable therapeutically. In particular, basic studies have documented a reduction in the electrophysiological activity of DA neurons in alcohol, opiate, cannabinoid, and other drug-dependent rats. Further, DA release in the Nucleus accumbens (Nacc) is decreased in virtually all drug-dependent rodents. In parallel, these studies are supported by increments in intracranial self stimulation (ICSS) thresholds during withdrawal from alcohol, nicotine, opiates, and other drugs of abuse, thereby suggesting a hypofunction of the neural substrate of ICSS. Accordingly, morphological evaluations fed into realistic computational analysis of the medium spiny neuron of the Nacc, post-synaptic counterpart of DA terminals, show profound changes in structure and function of the entire mesolimbic system. In line with these findings, human imaging studies have shown a reduction of dopamine receptors accompanied by a lesser release of endogenous DA in the ventral striatum of cocaine, heroin, and alcohol-dependent subjects, thereby offering visual proof of the "dopamine-impoverished" addicted human brain. The lasting reduction in physiological activity of the DA system leads to the idea that an increment in its activity, to restore pre-drug levels, may yield significant clinical improvements (reduction of craving, relapse, and drug-seeking/taking). In theory, it may be achieved pharmacologically and/or with novel interventions such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Its anatomo-physiological rationale as a possible therapeutic aid in alcoholics and other addicts will be described and proposed as a theoretical framework to be subjected to experimental testing in human addicts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Diana
- 'G. Minardi' Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Drug Sciences, University of Sassari Sassari, Italy
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Abstract
Because the effects of alcohol and its environmental cues on brain dopamine have been implicated in the maintenance of heavy drinking, drugs that modify dopamine might be useful in reducing drinking or promoting abstinence. The goal of the current study was to use an established brain imaging paradigm to explore the effect of aripiprazole (final dose 15 mg over a 14-day period), a dopamine stabilizer medication, on alcohol cue-induced brain activation and drinking in alcoholics. Non-treatment-seeking alcoholics were randomly assigned aripiprazole (n = 14) or identical placebo (n = 16) and reported their alcohol use while taking study medication for 14 days before an alcohol cue-induced brain functional magnetic resonance imaging study. In a Philips 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging scanner, subjects were given a sip of alcohol before viewing a randomized presentation alcoholic- and nonalcoholic-beverage photographs while subjects rated their urge to drink. During photograph presentation, changes in regional brain activity were measured, and differences between viewing alcoholic beverage and nonalcoholic beverages were compared within and between groups. Brain activity analysis revealed increased activation for placebo-treated subjects in the right ventral striatum (P < 0.005; threshold 15 voxels), while there was a blunting of activation in this area in the aripiprazole-treated subjects. Aripiprazole-treated subjects, compared with placebo-treated subjects, also had significantly less heavy drinking during the 14-day medication period. The study provides both novel and valuable information regarding the effect of aripiprazole on cue-induced brain activation and voluntary drinking during treatment.
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Orio L, Wee S, Newman AH, Pulvirenti L, Koob GF. The dopamine D3 receptor partial agonist CJB090 and antagonist PG01037 decrease progressive ratio responding for methamphetamine in rats with extended-access. Addict Biol 2010; 15:312-23. [PMID: 20456290 DOI: 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2010.00211.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Previous work suggests a role for dopamine D3-like receptors in psychostimulant reinforcement. The development of new compounds acting selectively at dopamine D3 receptors has opened new possibilities to explore the role of these receptors in animal models of psychostimulant dependence. Here we investigated whether the dopamine D3 partial agonist CJB090 (1-10 mg/kg, i.v) and the D3 antagonist PG01037 (8-32 mg/kg, s.c.) modified methamphetamine (0.05 mg/kg/injection) intravenous self-administration under fixed- (FR) and progressive- (PR) ratio schedules in rats allowed limited (short access, ShA; 1-hour sessions 3 days/week) or extended access (long access, LgA; 6 hour sessions 6 days/week). Under a FR1 schedule, the highest dose of the D3 partial agonist CJB090 selectively reduced methamphetamine self-administration in LgA but not in ShA rats, whereas the full D3 antagonist PG01037 produced no effect in either group. Under a PR schedule of reinforcement, the D3 partial agonist CJB090 reduced the maximum number of responses performed ('breakpoint') for methamphetamine in LgA rats at the doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg, and also it produced a significant reduction in the ShA group at the highest dose. However, the D3 full antagonist PG01037 only reduced PR methamphetamine self-administration in LgA rats at the highest dose of 32 mg/kg with no effect in the ShA group. The results suggest that rats might be more sensitive to pharmacological modulation of dopamine D3 receptors following extended access to methamphetamine self-administration, opening the possibility that D3 receptors play a role in excessive methamphetamine intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Orio
- The Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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Fountoulakis KN, Vieta E. Efficacy and safety of aripiprazole in the treatment of bipolar disorder: a systematic review. Ann Gen Psychiatry 2009; 8:16. [PMID: 19635147 PMCID: PMC2724509 DOI: 10.1186/1744-859x-8-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2009] [Accepted: 07/27/2009] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The current article is a systematic review concerning the efficacy and safety of aripiprazole in the treatment of bipolar disorder. METHODS A systematic Medline and repositories search concerning the usefulness of aripiprazole in bipolar disorder was performed, with the combination of the words 'aripiprazole' and 'bipolar'. RESULTS The search returned 184 articles and was last updated on 15 April 2009. An additional search included repositories of clinical trials and previous systematic reviews specifically in order to trace unpublished trials. There were seven placebo-controlled randomised controlled trials (RCTs), six with comparator studies and one with add-on studies. They assessed the usefulness of aripiprazole in acute mania, acute bipolar depression and during the maintenance phase in comparison to placebo, lithium or haloperidol. CONCLUSION Aripiprazole appears effective for the treatment and prophylaxis against mania. The data on bipolar depression are so far negative, however there is a need for further study at lower dosages. The most frequent adverse effects are extrapyramidal signs and symptoms, especially akathisia, without any significant weight gain, hyperprolactinaemia or laboratory test changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos N Fountoulakis
- Third Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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