title: Agomelatine reduces craving in benzodiazepine addicts: a follow-up examination of three patients.
abstract: The treatment of benzodiazepine withdrawal is difficult, and the search continues for substances that can reduce craving and the risk of relapse. Here, we report three cases of benzodiazepine addicts with histories of unsuccessful withdrawal attempts who experienced marked reductions in craving and improved relapse prognoses under add-on administration of agomelatine. These cases demonstrate a possible area of use for the antidepressant agomelatine in the treatment of benzodiazepine withdrawal and addiction. The extent to which this effect is due to the anti-craving effects of agomelatine, or its profile of receptor activation, should be further investigated in larger clinical and experimental studies.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. helge.mueller@uk-erlangen.de
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.forename: Juan-Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Maler
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kornhuber
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sperling
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016739:Behavior, Addictive; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D009281:Naphthalenes
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008140:Lorazepam; C084711:agomelatine; D009281:Naphthalenes