Propranolol to treat cocaine addiction
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) offer potential pharmacological treatment for cocaine addiction.
Devin Mueller, UWM assistant professor of psychology, found out that a common beta blocker (propranolol) currently used to treat people with hypertension and anxiety, has shown to be effective in preventing the brain from retrieving memories linked with cocaine use. He tested its effectiveness on animal-addiction models.
A therapeutic treatment blocks the retrieval of memories linked with drug addiction, a major reason of many addicts who experience relapse. Cocaine is one of the worst drug addictions, almost 80% of addicts are trying to avoid experiencing a relapse within 6 months.
There are no FDA-approved medications that can successfully treat cocaine abuse.
The effects of propranolol were long-lasting and could be permanent, even without subsequent doses and even in the presence of stimuli known to induce relapse.
Right now "exposure therapy" is used to help recovering addicts suppress their drug-seeking behavior. In this therapy, the patient is repeatedly exposed to stimuli that provoke cravings, but do not satisfy them. Done repeatedly over time, the patient experiences less craving when presented with those stimuli. But the effectiveness of this therapy, however, is limited. Mueller suggests that a combination of the therapy and propranolol can improve the treatment.
Comments
(0)