Drugs For Relapse Prevention Of Alcoholism (milestones In Drug Therapy)

Alcoholism is a pathological behavioural syndrome, characterised by comp- sive alcohol use, craving and relapses, even recurring after many years of abstinence. It is suggested that chronic alcohol abuse leads to persistent changes within several neurochemical pathways in the brain and furthermore that an imprinted drug and addiction memory may scarcely be extinguished. Hence, the question arises as to whether there ought to be a reasonable hope that pharmacological drugs will be developed that interfere with an addiction memory, and as a result, finally lead to a cure? In this book, leading preclinical and clinical experts in the field of alcohol relapse prevention strive to furnish an answer to this question. None of the researchers or clinicians believes in a magic bullet that will be of help to all alcoholic patients in overcoming this disease. However, there is now convi- ing evidence demonstrating that specific subpopulations of alcoholic patients experience satisfactory benefit from currently available treatments. Today we have two medications for relapse prevention on the market – acamprosate and naltrexone. Although, currently, only a minority of alcoholic patients benefit from these medications, the approval of these compounds may be considered a hallmark in the field of psychopharmacology, even comparable to the era when the first antidepressant compounds were introduced. In recent years we have been witnessing an enormous growth in the science and knowledge regarding the field of relapse prevention. History of prevention of relapse....Pages 1-11 How to measure relapse in animals....Pages 13-21 How to measure relapse in humans....Pages 23-39 Disulfiram (Antabuse®): the first medication to stop drinking....Pages 41-48 Naltrexone: preclinical data....Pages 49-58 Naltrexone: clinical data....Pages 59-72 Acamprosate: preclinical data....Pages 73-83 Acamprosate: clinical data....Pages 85-93 Serotonergic compounds: preclinical data....Pages 95-106 Serotonergic compounds: clinical data....Pages 107-116 Opioidergic compounds: preclinical data....Pages 117-124 Second generation opioidergic compounds: clinical data....Pages 125-134 Dopaminergic compounds: preclinical data....Pages 135-153 Dopaminergic compounds: clinical data....Pages 155-161 Baclofen: preclinical data....Pages 163-170 Baclofen: clinical data....Pages 171-180 Cannabinoid receptor antagonists: a perspective....Pages 181-187 Neuropeptide Y antagonists: a perspective....Pages 189-203 Glutamatergic compounds: a perspective....Pages 205-216 Future perspectives on relapse prevention....Pages 217-226 "This book gives a comprehensive overview about different neurotransmitter/peptide systems involved in craving and relapse behavior and critically describes the clinical application of new anti-craving and anti-relapse compounds. The editors compiled the most recent available preclinical and clinical data, offering a thorough picture on modern relapse prevention. Undoubtedly, this book sets out to provide an all-encompassing overview about the topic, which will be of interest to the preclinical researcher, the clinician as well as to the patient who wants to learn more."--Jacket

this Book Gives A Comprehensive Overview About Different Neurotransmitter/peptide Systems Involved In Craving And Relapse Behavior And Critically Describes The Clinical Application Of New Anti-craving And Anti-relapse Compounds. The Editors Compiled The Most Recent Available Preclinical And Clinical Data, Offering A Thorough Picture On Modern Relapse Prevention. Undoubtedly, This Book Sets Out To Provide An All-encompassing Overview About The Topic, Which Will Be Of Interest To The Preclinical Researcher, The Clinician As Well As To The Patient Who Wants To Learn More.

A salient feature of the problem people encounter with alcohol is that a habit of excessive drinking, once acquired, does not easily and permanently go away.