Olanzapine reduces urge to drink after drinking cues and a priming dose of alcohol.
BACKGROUND
Haloperidol, a D2 antagonist, has been shown to moderate the effects of alcohol consumption on craving.


OBJECTIVE
The present study was designed to determine whether a single 5-mg dose of olanzapine (a D2/5-HT2 antagonist) would influence responses to alcohol cues or an alcohol challenge. It was hypothesized that olanzapine would attenuate cue-elicited urge to drink, attenuate the effects of alcohol consumption on urge to drink, and reduce the rewarding effects of alcohol.


METHODS
To test these hypotheses, 26 heavy social drinkers were randomized to receive either 5 mg olanzapine or placebo approximately 8 h before each of two experimental sessions. Participants consumed a moderate dose of alcohol in one experimental session and a non-alcohol control beverage in another session.


RESULTS
Results indicated that mere exposure to alcohol cues and consumption of alcohol increased urge to drink and that olanzapine attenuated these effects. Results also indicated that alcohol increased subjective stimulation and high while olanzapine did not moderate these effects.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that olanzapine did not influence the rewarding effects of alcohol but did attenuate the effects of alcohol cues and an alcohol challenge on urge to drink.
Hutchison
K E
KE
Department of Psychology, University of Colorado, Muenzinger Psychology Building, Campus Box 345, Boulder, CO 80309-0345, USA. kenth@psych.colorado.edu
Swift
R
R
Rohsenow
D J
DJ
Monti
P M
PM
Davidson
D
D
Almeida
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology; D003463:Cues; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010890:Pirenzepine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010890:Pirenzepine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors