TY - JOUR
T1 - The therapeutic potential of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid for alcohol dependence
T2 - Balancing the risks and benefits. A focus on clinical data
AU - Addolorato, Giovanni
AU - Leggio, Lorenzo
AU - Ferrulli, Anna
AU - Caputo, Fabio
AU - Gasbarrini, Antonio
PY - 2009/5
Y1 - 2009/5
N2 - There is an increasing interest in studying the role of GABAergic medications in the treatment of alcohol dependence. The GABAergic drug gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) has been investigated in Europe as a possible treatment for alcohol dependence. In some European Countries, GHB has been approved as a treatment for alcohol dependence. However, this drug has also shown addictive properties, therefore raising questions about its safety in treating alcohol-dependent subjects. More recent research is focusing on the possibility of identifying alcohol-dependent subtypes without risk of developing GHB abuse. Finally, GHB and naltrexone combined together represent a possible approach deserving future investigations.
AB - There is an increasing interest in studying the role of GABAergic medications in the treatment of alcohol dependence. The GABAergic drug gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) has been investigated in Europe as a possible treatment for alcohol dependence. In some European Countries, GHB has been approved as a treatment for alcohol dependence. However, this drug has also shown addictive properties, therefore raising questions about its safety in treating alcohol-dependent subjects. More recent research is focusing on the possibility of identifying alcohol-dependent subtypes without risk of developing GHB abuse. Finally, GHB and naltrexone combined together represent a possible approach deserving future investigations.
KW - Alcohol craving
KW - Alcohol dependence
KW - Alcohol withdrawal syndrome
KW - GHB
KW - GHB abuse and dependence
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67649604205&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=67649604205&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1517/13543780902905855
DO - 10.1517/13543780902905855
M3 - Article
C2 - 19379123
AN - SCOPUS:67649604205
VL - 18
SP - 675
EP - 686
JO - Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs
JF - Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs
SN - 1354-3784
IS - 5
ER -