ScienceDaily (Jan. 8, 2007) — Smokers trying to kick the habit face odds that only a bookie could love--just one in five succeeds in quitting. Stanford University School of Medicine researchers will test whether a new type of medication could help smokers quit and bolster their chances of staying smoke-free for good.
Researchers at the Stanford Prevention Research Center are looking for regular smokers to try a skin patch that delivers a medication used to treat depression. The drug, selegiline, could help smokers combat the cravings they feel when they try to quit, said study leader Joel Killen, PhD, professor of medicine.
The medication, which is marketed under the name Emsam, is produced by Somerset Pharmaceuticals and Bristol-Meyers Squibb. The Food and Drug Administration approved the patch as an antidepressant treatment in February 2006.
The study seeks smokers between the ages of 18 and 65 who are interested in quitting, said Killen. Participants will wear a patch on their skin that delivers either selegiline or a placebo. Participants put on a new patch each day for eight weeks while trying to quit smoking.
Click here to read entire article at Science Daily.com
Monday, January 8, 2007
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
New Medications Are Battling Substance Abuse And Addiction
ScienceDaily (Sep. 26, 2006)
The number of medications for treating addictions - one of the nation's most serious public health problems - has nearly doubled in recent years, along with a gradually expanding public willingness to use medication-based therapy, according to an article in the Sept. 25 issue of the ACS weekly news magazine, Chemical & Engineering News.
With September designated as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery month, C&EN showcases the new pharmacotherapies, including the first new non-nicotine treatment for cigarette smokers in almost a decade. Written by senior correspondent Ann M. Thayer, the article also discusses new products for opioid abuse and alcohol dependence.
Thayer notes that addictions once were regarded largely as weaknesses in character or will. A better scientific understanding of addiction is slowly changing that mindset and leading to a wider exploration of medication-based treatments.
Thayer points out, however, that most people with substance dependence or abuse problems do not get treatment of any kind, including behavioral therapies that can be effective.
With growing recognition that addiction disorders are chronic, relapsing diseases, pharmaceutical companies increasingly are viewing addiction as a target for drug development, the article indicates.
Although only about 10 products are on the market, more than 30 other new pharmacotherapies are in various stages of development for alcohol, narcotic and nicotine dependences.
The number of medications for treating addictions - one of the nation's most serious public health problems - has nearly doubled in recent years, along with a gradually expanding public willingness to use medication-based therapy, according to an article in the Sept. 25 issue of the ACS weekly news magazine, Chemical & Engineering News.
With September designated as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery month, C&EN showcases the new pharmacotherapies, including the first new non-nicotine treatment for cigarette smokers in almost a decade. Written by senior correspondent Ann M. Thayer, the article also discusses new products for opioid abuse and alcohol dependence.
Thayer notes that addictions once were regarded largely as weaknesses in character or will. A better scientific understanding of addiction is slowly changing that mindset and leading to a wider exploration of medication-based treatments.
Thayer points out, however, that most people with substance dependence or abuse problems do not get treatment of any kind, including behavioral therapies that can be effective.
With growing recognition that addiction disorders are chronic, relapsing diseases, pharmaceutical companies increasingly are viewing addiction as a target for drug development, the article indicates.
Although only about 10 products are on the market, more than 30 other new pharmacotherapies are in various stages of development for alcohol, narcotic and nicotine dependences.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Researchers Test New Way To Quit Smoking
ScienceDaily (Mar. 15, 2006) — Smokers trying to kick the habit might stand a better chance of staying smoke-free if they begin using replacement nicotine patches or gum in the weeks before they quit cigarettes.
That's a theory a team led by the Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU) at The University of Auckland's School of Population Health is testing in a study funded by the Health Research Council and National Heart Foundation.
Principal investigator Dr Chris Bullen says the conventional wisdom is that people trying to quit throw away their cigarettes and immediately replace them with a nicotine substitute, such as nicotine patches or chewing gum.
But some recent small-scale studies have suggested that the earlier use of a nicotine substitute might improve the chances of a person staying smokefree.
Click here to read entire article at Science Daily.com
That's a theory a team led by the Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU) at The University of Auckland's School of Population Health is testing in a study funded by the Health Research Council and National Heart Foundation.
Principal investigator Dr Chris Bullen says the conventional wisdom is that people trying to quit throw away their cigarettes and immediately replace them with a nicotine substitute, such as nicotine patches or chewing gum.
But some recent small-scale studies have suggested that the earlier use of a nicotine substitute might improve the chances of a person staying smokefree.
Click here to read entire article at Science Daily.com
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Once-a-month Injectable Medication Helps Treat Alcohol Dependence
ScienceDaily (Apr. 21, 2005) — CHICAGO — Because of problems with adherence to a daily oral dose of naltrexone, the effectiveness found in treating alcohol dependence with a once-a-month injection of naltrexone could improve long-term treatment outcomes, according to a study in the April 6 issue of JAMA.
Alcohol dependence is a major public health problem, which worldwide is the fourth leading cause of disability, according to background information in the article. Alcohol dependence is present in approximately 4 percent of the U.S. adult population, is common among primary care patients, and may contribute to more than 100,000 preventable deaths per year. The drug naltrexone has shown efficacy for treatment of alcohol dependence. However, adherence to daily oral doses can be problematic, and clinical acceptance and utility of oral naltrexone have been limited.
James C. Garbutt, M.D., of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, N.C., and colleagues conducted a study to determine the efficacy and safety of a new formulation, which releases naltrexone for 1 month following a single injection, for treatment of alcohol dependence.
Click here to read entire article at Science Daily.com
Alcohol dependence is a major public health problem, which worldwide is the fourth leading cause of disability, according to background information in the article. Alcohol dependence is present in approximately 4 percent of the U.S. adult population, is common among primary care patients, and may contribute to more than 100,000 preventable deaths per year. The drug naltrexone has shown efficacy for treatment of alcohol dependence. However, adherence to daily oral doses can be problematic, and clinical acceptance and utility of oral naltrexone have been limited.
James C. Garbutt, M.D., of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, N.C., and colleagues conducted a study to determine the efficacy and safety of a new formulation, which releases naltrexone for 1 month following a single injection, for treatment of alcohol dependence.
Click here to read entire article at Science Daily.com
Tuesday, May 4, 2004
Medication For Multiple Sclerosis May Help In Treating Cocaine Addiction
ScienceDaily (May 4, 2004)
Results of a NIDA-funded study show that a combination of substance abuse counseling and baclofen--a medication often used to treat muscle spasms in people with multiple sclerosis--can reduce cocaine use.
The study involved 70 people who participated in a 16-week treatment program for cocaine addiction. Thirty-five received counseling and baclofen, and 35 received counseling and a placebo. Cocaine use was monitored by thriceweekly urine tests.
Analyses showed that people who received the counseling/baclofen combination had lower levels of drug use during the treatment period than the individuals in the counseling/placebo group, as indicated by urine testing. The response was most apparent among people who were chronic, heavy users of crack cocaine.
The researchers say baclofen may help by inhibiting the release of the brain chemical dopamine, thus reducing the desire for cocaine.
WHAT IT MEANS: The combined effect of drug abuse counseling and a medication that targets dopamine release in the brain may offer hope to the many people struggling with cocaine dependence. There are currently no Food and Drug Administration-approved medications to treat cocaine addiction.
Dr. Steven Shoptaw and his colleagues at the University of California–Los Angeles published these results in the December 15, 2003 issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
Adapted from materials provided by NIH/National Institute On Drug Abuse.
Results of a NIDA-funded study show that a combination of substance abuse counseling and baclofen--a medication often used to treat muscle spasms in people with multiple sclerosis--can reduce cocaine use.
The study involved 70 people who participated in a 16-week treatment program for cocaine addiction. Thirty-five received counseling and baclofen, and 35 received counseling and a placebo. Cocaine use was monitored by thriceweekly urine tests.
Analyses showed that people who received the counseling/baclofen combination had lower levels of drug use during the treatment period than the individuals in the counseling/placebo group, as indicated by urine testing. The response was most apparent among people who were chronic, heavy users of crack cocaine.
The researchers say baclofen may help by inhibiting the release of the brain chemical dopamine, thus reducing the desire for cocaine.
WHAT IT MEANS: The combined effect of drug abuse counseling and a medication that targets dopamine release in the brain may offer hope to the many people struggling with cocaine dependence. There are currently no Food and Drug Administration-approved medications to treat cocaine addiction.
Dr. Steven Shoptaw and his colleagues at the University of California–Los Angeles published these results in the December 15, 2003 issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
Adapted from materials provided by NIH/National Institute On Drug Abuse.
Tuesday, January 6, 2004
New Study Suggests Methamphetamine Withdrawal Is Associated With Brain Changes Similar To Those Seen In Depression And Anxiety
ScienceDaily (Jan. 6, 2004) — Results of a new study indicate that people who have recently stopped abusing the powerfully addictive drug methamphetamine may have brain abnormalities similar to those seen in people with mood disorders. The findings suggest practitioners could improve success rates for methamphetamine users receiving addiction treatment by also providing therapy for depression and anxiety in appropriate individuals. The study is published in the January 2004 issue of the journal Archives of General Psychiatry.
“Methamphetamine abuse is a grave problem that can lead to serious health conditions including brain damage, memory loss, psychotic-like behavior, heart damage, hepatitis, and HIV transmission,” says Dr. Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health, which funded the study. “Currently, no medication exists to treat abuse or addiction to amphetamines or amphetamine-like compounds; however, drug counselors and other health professionals have successfully used behavioral interventions to treat addiction. Treatment outcomes may improve if associated mental conditions are addressed concurrently with addiction.”
Click here to read entire article at Science Daily.com
“Methamphetamine abuse is a grave problem that can lead to serious health conditions including brain damage, memory loss, psychotic-like behavior, heart damage, hepatitis, and HIV transmission,” says Dr. Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health, which funded the study. “Currently, no medication exists to treat abuse or addiction to amphetamines or amphetamine-like compounds; however, drug counselors and other health professionals have successfully used behavioral interventions to treat addiction. Treatment outcomes may improve if associated mental conditions are addressed concurrently with addiction.”
Click here to read entire article at Science Daily.com
Tuesday, May 27, 2003
Behavioral Treatment May Reverse Brain Changes That Occur With Cocaine Use And Help Prevent Relapse
ScienceDaily (May 27, 2003) — Brain changes that occur with cocaine use and the tendency toward relapse may be reduced by a behavioral treatment using extinction training--a form of conditioning that removes the reward associated with a learned behavior. NIDA-funded researchers found that extinction training during cocaine withdrawal produces changes in brain receptors for glutamate, a brain chemical found in the nucleus accumbens, the reward center of the brain. A reduction in glutamate input from cortical brain regions by chronic cocaine use is thought to contribute to persistent cravings for the drug.
The researchers trained rats to self-administer cocaine by pressing a lever and to associate the availability of cocaine with certain environmental cues (lights and noise). Once the rats had learned to expect cocaine when they pressed the lever, cocaine and the cues were removed so that the rats did not receive the cocaine that they were anticipating. One group of rats received this extinction training during cocaine withdrawal while another group did not receive the training. After extinction training was over, the researchers exposed the rats to the cocaine-associated cues and administered cocaine to induce relapse.
Click here to read entire article at Science Daily.com
The researchers trained rats to self-administer cocaine by pressing a lever and to associate the availability of cocaine with certain environmental cues (lights and noise). Once the rats had learned to expect cocaine when they pressed the lever, cocaine and the cues were removed so that the rats did not receive the cocaine that they were anticipating. One group of rats received this extinction training during cocaine withdrawal while another group did not receive the training. After extinction training was over, the researchers exposed the rats to the cocaine-associated cues and administered cocaine to induce relapse.
Click here to read entire article at Science Daily.com
Wednesday, October 3, 2001
Scientists Find New Approach To Developing Medications To Prevent Relapse To Cocaine Use
ScienceDaily (Oct. 3, 2001) — Research teams from the Drug Abuse Program of the VU Medical Center in the Netherlands and the intramural laboratories of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) have identified a process in the brain that may lead to a new generation of medications to prevent relapse to cocaine use.
In studies using rats, the scientists, led by Dr. Taco J. De Vries of VU Medical Center and Dr. Yavin Shaham of NIDA, found that the same system–the cannabinoid system–that governs the pharmacological actions of marijuana in the brain also plays an important role in the neuronal processes underlying relapse to cocaine use.
By blocking cannabinoid receptor activity with chemical antagonists, the investigators prevented relapse to cocaine use induced by exposure to cocaine-associated cues or by cocaine itself.
Click here to read entire article at Science Daily.com
In studies using rats, the scientists, led by Dr. Taco J. De Vries of VU Medical Center and Dr. Yavin Shaham of NIDA, found that the same system–the cannabinoid system–that governs the pharmacological actions of marijuana in the brain also plays an important role in the neuronal processes underlying relapse to cocaine use.
By blocking cannabinoid receptor activity with chemical antagonists, the investigators prevented relapse to cocaine use induced by exposure to cocaine-associated cues or by cocaine itself.
Click here to read entire article at Science Daily.com
Thursday, July 12, 2001
Researchers Find That After Stopping Cocaine Use, Drug Craving Gets Stronger Over Time
ScienceDaily (July 12, 2001)
Using an animal model of drug craving in laboratory rats, researchers at the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) have found that craving for cocaine seems to increase, rather than decrease, in the days and months after drug use has stopped.
"This phenomenon helps explain why addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease," says NIDA Director Dr. Alan I. Leshner. "Craving is a powerful force for cocaine addicts to resist, and the finding that it persists long after last drug use must be considered in tailoring treatment programs."
The research team, which included Drs. Jeff Grimm, Bruce Hope, Roy Wise and Yavin Shaham, published its findings in the July 12, 2001, issue of Nature.
In the study, the scientists found that sensitivity to drug-associated environmental cues that often accompany drug craving and relapse increased over a 60-day withdrawal period. Cocaine craving was inferred from the behavior of rats trained to press a lever to receive intravenous cocaine injections. Once the animals had learned to associate the lever-pressing with receiving cocaine, they were tested under conditions where they could continue to press the lever, but no longer received cocaine.
In humans, drug-associated environmental cues often stimulate cocaine craving and accompany relapse to drug-using behavior. The NIDA investigators wrote in their report to Nature that "the data from this study suggest that an individual is most vulnerable to relapse to cocaine use well beyond the acute drug withdrawal phase."
Adapted from materials provided by NIH/National Institute On Drug Abuse.
Using an animal model of drug craving in laboratory rats, researchers at the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) have found that craving for cocaine seems to increase, rather than decrease, in the days and months after drug use has stopped.
"This phenomenon helps explain why addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease," says NIDA Director Dr. Alan I. Leshner. "Craving is a powerful force for cocaine addicts to resist, and the finding that it persists long after last drug use must be considered in tailoring treatment programs."
The research team, which included Drs. Jeff Grimm, Bruce Hope, Roy Wise and Yavin Shaham, published its findings in the July 12, 2001, issue of Nature.
In the study, the scientists found that sensitivity to drug-associated environmental cues that often accompany drug craving and relapse increased over a 60-day withdrawal period. Cocaine craving was inferred from the behavior of rats trained to press a lever to receive intravenous cocaine injections. Once the animals had learned to associate the lever-pressing with receiving cocaine, they were tested under conditions where they could continue to press the lever, but no longer received cocaine.
In humans, drug-associated environmental cues often stimulate cocaine craving and accompany relapse to drug-using behavior. The NIDA investigators wrote in their report to Nature that "the data from this study suggest that an individual is most vulnerable to relapse to cocaine use well beyond the acute drug withdrawal phase."
Adapted from materials provided by NIH/National Institute On Drug Abuse.
Tuesday, May 15, 2001
New Discovery Offers Hope Of Better Treatments For Cocaine Addiction Relapse
ScienceDaily (May 15, 2001)
Researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine have identified a key mechanism involved in relapse to cocaine addiction. In determining the involvement of the neurotransmitter glutamate in relapse in the rat, the Einstein researchers also suggest a promising target for developing effective treatments for preventing relapses. They report their findings in the May 11 issue of Science.
"We stimulated a region of the brain that contains the neurotransmitter glutamate and were able to cause relapse," explains Dr. Stanislav R. Vorel, first author of the study that he and his Einstein colleagues conducted in conjunction with Dr. Eliot Gardner of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a unit of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
The study explored the effects of electrical stimulation of the hippocampus region of the brain, which is one of the regions associated with memory.
"We found that electrical stimulation of the hippocampus, a memory area that may underlie the memory of drug effects, led to drug-seeking behavior," says Dr. Vorel, who is a graduate student at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Vorel previously received his M.D. degree in the Netherlands.
Further, the researchers were able to demonstrate that a glutamate blocker (kynurenic acid) blocks relapse, suggesting to them that glutamate blockers could be good ingredients for developing new addiction treatments.
"Previous drug development has focused on the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is connected to the 'liking' region of the brain, rather than the 'wanting' response we observed in the hippocampus," says Dr. Vorel. "Since 'wanting' a drug is more directly connected to relapse - which is the greatest hindrance to successful addiction treatment - we believe glutamate could prove a promising target for new drug developments designed to treat cocaine addiction."
Adapted from materials provided by Albert Einstein College Of Medicine.
Researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine have identified a key mechanism involved in relapse to cocaine addiction. In determining the involvement of the neurotransmitter glutamate in relapse in the rat, the Einstein researchers also suggest a promising target for developing effective treatments for preventing relapses. They report their findings in the May 11 issue of Science.
"We stimulated a region of the brain that contains the neurotransmitter glutamate and were able to cause relapse," explains Dr. Stanislav R. Vorel, first author of the study that he and his Einstein colleagues conducted in conjunction with Dr. Eliot Gardner of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a unit of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
The study explored the effects of electrical stimulation of the hippocampus region of the brain, which is one of the regions associated with memory.
"We found that electrical stimulation of the hippocampus, a memory area that may underlie the memory of drug effects, led to drug-seeking behavior," says Dr. Vorel, who is a graduate student at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Vorel previously received his M.D. degree in the Netherlands.
Further, the researchers were able to demonstrate that a glutamate blocker (kynurenic acid) blocks relapse, suggesting to them that glutamate blockers could be good ingredients for developing new addiction treatments.
"Previous drug development has focused on the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is connected to the 'liking' region of the brain, rather than the 'wanting' response we observed in the hippocampus," says Dr. Vorel. "Since 'wanting' a drug is more directly connected to relapse - which is the greatest hindrance to successful addiction treatment - we believe glutamate could prove a promising target for new drug developments designed to treat cocaine addiction."
Adapted from materials provided by Albert Einstein College Of Medicine.
Thursday, March 29, 2001
Relapsed Smokers Can Be Successfully Re-Treated
ScienceDaily (Mar. 29, 2001)
PORTLAND, Ore. – In one of the first "recycling" studies to examine people who attempt to quit smoking after first failing medical treatment, researchers at Oregon Health Sciences University and their colleagues found abstinence rates five times greater for participants taking bupropion compared to participants taking a placebo. Study results are being presented at 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 24, at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting in Seattle.
"Patients often feel discouraged following treatment with medications such as bupropion or nicotine patches if they are unable to successfully quit smoking," said David Gonzales, Ph.D., director of the OHSU Smoking Cessation Center and lead author of the study results. "However, evidence-based options for patients in this situation have been few. This is the first study to show that smokers can be retreated with bupropion successfully."
Bupropion, marketed in sustained release form as Zyban, is a nicotine-free prescription medication designed to reduce nicotine cravings and other symptoms normally associated with nicotine withdrawal. The multicenter study involved 450 adult cigarette smokers who averaged 15 cigarettes per day prior to the study, and who had been unable to quit or had relapsed after a previous course of bupropion. Study participants were randomly selected to receive bupropion SR or a placebo.
Typically, people who attempt to quit smoking on their own experience 5 percent to 7 percent success rates, while smokers who try bupropion a first time generally enjoy a better-than-30 percent long-term success rate. In this study, smokers re-treated with the drug had a 27 percent abstinence rate after seven weeks, compared to 5 percent abstinence for the placebo group. At 12 weeks, 20 percent of smokers being re-treated were still smoke free compared to three percent of the subjects in the placebo group.
Zyban is marketed by GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals.
Adapted from materials provided by Oregon Health Sciences University.
PORTLAND, Ore. – In one of the first "recycling" studies to examine people who attempt to quit smoking after first failing medical treatment, researchers at Oregon Health Sciences University and their colleagues found abstinence rates five times greater for participants taking bupropion compared to participants taking a placebo. Study results are being presented at 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 24, at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting in Seattle.
"Patients often feel discouraged following treatment with medications such as bupropion or nicotine patches if they are unable to successfully quit smoking," said David Gonzales, Ph.D., director of the OHSU Smoking Cessation Center and lead author of the study results. "However, evidence-based options for patients in this situation have been few. This is the first study to show that smokers can be retreated with bupropion successfully."
Bupropion, marketed in sustained release form as Zyban, is a nicotine-free prescription medication designed to reduce nicotine cravings and other symptoms normally associated with nicotine withdrawal. The multicenter study involved 450 adult cigarette smokers who averaged 15 cigarettes per day prior to the study, and who had been unable to quit or had relapsed after a previous course of bupropion. Study participants were randomly selected to receive bupropion SR or a placebo.
Typically, people who attempt to quit smoking on their own experience 5 percent to 7 percent success rates, while smokers who try bupropion a first time generally enjoy a better-than-30 percent long-term success rate. In this study, smokers re-treated with the drug had a 27 percent abstinence rate after seven weeks, compared to 5 percent abstinence for the placebo group. At 12 weeks, 20 percent of smokers being re-treated were still smoke free compared to three percent of the subjects in the placebo group.
Zyban is marketed by GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals.
Adapted from materials provided by Oregon Health Sciences University.
Wednesday, May 31, 2000
Hypnosis As Smoking Cessation Therapy Needs Further Scrutiny
ScienceDaily (May 31, 2000) — COLUMBUS, Ohio - Smokers who are hopeful that hypnosis will help them kick their habit need to temper their expectations, according to new research.
A review of nearly five dozen studies showed that while hypnosis may have some effect as an anti-smoking treatment, it is by no means an end-all and be-all treatment for smoking cessation.
"Giving hypnosis the stamp of a well-established treatment for smoking cessation is premature," said Joseph Green, a study co-author and associate professor of psychology at Ohio State University's Lima campus.
Click here to read entire article at Science Daily.com
A review of nearly five dozen studies showed that while hypnosis may have some effect as an anti-smoking treatment, it is by no means an end-all and be-all treatment for smoking cessation.
"Giving hypnosis the stamp of a well-established treatment for smoking cessation is premature," said Joseph Green, a study co-author and associate professor of psychology at Ohio State University's Lima campus.
Click here to read entire article at Science Daily.com
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