title: Novel pharmacotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of drug addiction and craving.
abstract: Pharmacological agents have shown limited efficacy and consistency in the treatment of drug addiction. Hence, the development of new medications with improved long-term efficacy and reduced side effects should be given a high priority given the costs to society associated with drug abuse and drug-related pathologies. Neurochemical systems can be significantly altered by repeated exposure to drugs of abuse. These long-term molecular and neurochemical changes might, in turn, explain the core features of addiction--the compulsive seeking and taking of the drug--as well as the risk of relapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery in Psychiatry, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, 37135 Verona, Italy. Christian_A_Heidbreder@gsk.com
authors.forename: Christian A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Heidbreder
authors.forename: Jim J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hagan
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone; D009538:Nicotine