TY - JOUR
T1 - Pharmacological mechanisms of naltrexone and acamprosate in the prevention of relapse in alcohol dependence
AU - Littleton, John
AU - Zieglgänsberger, Walter
PY - 2003
Y1 - 2003
N2 - Naltrexone and acamprosate may ultimately prove to be useful additions to pharmacotherapy for alcoholism by reducing relapse. Naltrexone is a relatively selective competitive antagonist at mu-opioid receptors, and this activity may explain its anti-relapse action either because endogenous opioids are involved in the positively reinforcing effects of alcohol and/or because these same transmitters are involved in the conditioned anticipation of these effects. In contrast, the pharmacology of acamprosate is still poorly understood. This is not surprising because it is a small flexible molecule with similarities to several neuro-active amino acids and is used in high doses. All these factors suggest that it may have multiple actions. Currently, the best explanation for the effects of acamprosate seems to be that it inhibits the glutamatergic transmitter system involved in both the negative reinforcing effects of alcohol and the conditioned "pseudo-withdrawal" that may be important in cue-induced relapse.
AB - Naltrexone and acamprosate may ultimately prove to be useful additions to pharmacotherapy for alcoholism by reducing relapse. Naltrexone is a relatively selective competitive antagonist at mu-opioid receptors, and this activity may explain its anti-relapse action either because endogenous opioids are involved in the positively reinforcing effects of alcohol and/or because these same transmitters are involved in the conditioned anticipation of these effects. In contrast, the pharmacology of acamprosate is still poorly understood. This is not surprising because it is a small flexible molecule with similarities to several neuro-active amino acids and is used in high doses. All these factors suggest that it may have multiple actions. Currently, the best explanation for the effects of acamprosate seems to be that it inhibits the glutamatergic transmitter system involved in both the negative reinforcing effects of alcohol and the conditioned "pseudo-withdrawal" that may be important in cue-induced relapse.
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1521-0391.2003.tb00492.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1521-0391.2003.tb00492.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 14972776
AN - SCOPUS:0038587675
SN - 1055-0496
VL - 12
SP - s3-s11
JO - American Journal on Addictions
JF - American Journal on Addictions
IS - SUPPL. 1
ER -