The therapeutic potential of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid for alcohol dependence: balancing the risks and benefits. A focus on clinical data.
There is an increasing interest in studying the role of GABAergic medications in the treatment of alcohol dependence. The GABAergic drug gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) has been investigated in Europe as a possible treatment for alcohol dependence. In some European Countries, GHB has been approved as a treatment for alcohol dependence. However, this drug has also shown addictive properties, therefore raising questions about its safety in treating alcohol-dependent subjects. More recent research is focusing on the possibility of identifying alcohol-dependent subtypes without risk of developing GHB abuse. Finally, GHB and naltrexone combined together represent a possible approach deserving future investigations.
Addolorato
Giovanni
G
Catholic University of Rome, Institute of Internal Medicine, L.o A. Gemelli 8, I-00168 Rome, Italy. g.addolorato@rm.unicatt.it
Leggio
Lorenzo
L
Ferrulli
Anna
A
Caputo
Fabio
F
Gasbarrini
Antonio
A
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology
D012978:Sodium Oxybate