title: Are the effects of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) treatment partly physiological in alcohol dependence?
abstract: It has been hypothesized that the therapeutic effects of Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in alcohol dependence could be related to ethanol-mimicking action of the drug and that GHB could reduce alcohol craving, intake and withdrawal by acting as a "substitute" of the alcohol in the central nervous system. Nevertheless, alcohol being the strongest trigger of craving and intake, it is difficult to ascribe reduction of craving and intake to ethanol-mimicking activity of GHB. I have recently proposed that alcohol/substance dependence could result from a GHB-deficiency-related dysphoric syndrome in which alcohol/substances would be sought to "substitute" for insufficient GHB effect. GHB is the sole identified naturally occurring gamma-aminobutyric acid B (GABA (B)) receptor agonist. Here, I propose that exogenous GHB might in fact "substitute" for deficient endogeneous GHB and represent true substitutive treatment for GHB-deficiency. And that baclofen and GHB could both compensate for deficient effect of the physiological GABA (B) receptor agonist(s).
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ameisen
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001418:Baclofen / Q000494:pharmacology; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D058786:GABA-B Receptor Agonists; D006801:Humans; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018755:GABA Agonists; D058786:GABA-B Receptor Agonists; D012978:Sodium Oxybate; D001418:Baclofen