| Substitution therapy for alcoholism: time for a reappraisal? | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 21742726 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
A number of compounds already in use as medications for various indications substitute for ethanol at clinically relevant brain pathways, in particular, at gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. Nevertheless, although substitute medications have been recognized for heroin and tobacco dependence, patients with alcohol dependence are rarely offered an analogous approach. Benzodiazepines may have paradoxical effects, and abuse and dependence are known. Baclofen (GABA(B) agonist) has not been associated with dependence or misuse and has been effective in several trials in preventing relapse, although research is required to establish the optimal dosing regimen. GABA-ergic anticonvulsants, helpful in treating withdrawal, have yet to emerge as effective in relapse prevention. Clomethiazole and sodium oxybate, the latter having been shown to be effective in relapse prevention, have incurred a reputation for dependence and abuse. However, data have emerged showing that the risk of abuse of sodium oxybate is lower than many clinicians had foreseen. For a condition where existing therapies are only effective in a proportion of patients, and which has high morbidity and mortality, the time now seems right for reappraising the use of substitute prescribing for alcohol dependence. |
| | |
Authors:
|
Jonathan Chick; David Nutt |
Related Documents
:
|
1494896 - Restoring the patient's voice: the case of gilda radner. 16317746 - A shared professional framework for anatomy and clinical clerkships. 19890576 - Attitudes towards the elderly among singapore medical students. 15510576 - Medical house officers' attitudes toward vigorous analgesia, terminal sedation, and phy... 11294326 - Substance abuse by medical students and doctors. 12636976 - Evolutionary computing for knowledge discovery in medical diagnosis. |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2011-7-8 |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) Volume: - ISSN: 1461-7285 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2011 Jul |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2011-7-11 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 8907828 Medline TA: J Psychopharmacol Country: - |
Other Details:
|
Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Affiliation:
|
Health Sciences, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
|
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Telephone Lifestyle Coaching: is it Feasible as a Behavioural Change Intervention for men?
Next Document: Inna golubovskaya: the life of a geneticist studying meiosis.