Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors as pharmacotherapeutic targets for the treatment of alcohol use disorders.
Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are complex, and developing effective treatments will require the combination of novel medications and cognitive behavioral therapy approaches. Epidemiological studies have shown there is a high correlation between alcohol consumption and tobacco use, and the prevalence of smoking in alcoholics is as high as 80% compared to about 30% for the general population. Both preclinical and clinical data provide evidence that nicotine administration increases alcohol intake and non-specific nicotinic receptor antagonists reduce alcohol-mediated behaviors. As nicotine interacts specifically with the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) system, this suggests that nAChRs play an important role in the behavioral effects of alcohol. In this review, we discuss the importance of nAChRs for the treatment of AUDs and argue that the use of FDA approved nAChR ligands, such as varenicline and mecamylamine, approved as smoking cessation aids may prove to be valuable treatments for AUDs. We also address the importance of combining effective medications with behavioral therapy for the treatment of alcohol dependent individuals.
Chatterjee
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Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center at the University of California San Francisco, 5858 Horton Street, Suite 200 Emeryville, CA 94608, USA.
Bartlett
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D020268:Alcohol-Induced Disorders, Nervous System / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008464:Mecamylamine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000068580:Varenicline
D001552:Benzazepines; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists; D011810:Quinoxalines; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D008464:Mecamylamine; D000068580:Varenicline