Alcohol use disorder is severely under-treated, and the development of new and more effective pharmacotherapies is necessary. |
The repurposed and novel agents discussed in this qualitative literature review offer promise for the future of AUD treatment, including advancements toward precision medicine for the heterogeneous AUD population. |
1 Introduction
2 Pharmacological Treatments for AUD
Agent | Mechanism of action | Approval status | Preclinical results | Clinical results | Target outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Disulfiram | Aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor; dopamine beta-hydroxylase inhibitor | FDA- and EMA-approved for AUD | Achieve and maintain abstinence | ||
Acamprosate | Modulates glutamatergic activity | FDA- and EMA-approved for AUD | Achieve and maintain abstinence | ||
Naltrexone | Opioid receptor antagonist | FDA- and EMA-approved for AUD | Achieve and maintain abstinence and reduce drinking | ||
Nalmefene | Opioid receptor antagonist and partial agonist | EMA-approved for AUD; FDA-approved for opioid overdose | Reduce drinking | ||
Baclofen | GABAB agonist | Approved for AUD in France | Achieve and maintain abstinence | ||
Sodium oxybate | Modulates GABA activity | Approved for AUD in Italy and Austria | Reduce withdrawal symptoms and achieve abstinence | ||
Topiramate | Inhibits glutamatergic activity and increases GABA activity | Repurposed | Achieve abstinence and reduce drinking | ||
Gabapentin | Modulates GABA activity | Repurposed | Achieve abstinence and reduce drinking | ||
Varenicline | Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist | Repurposed | Reduce drinking | ||
Aripiprazole | Dopamine receptor partial agonist and 5-HT2A receptor antagonist | Repurposed | Reduce drinking | ||
Ondansetron | 5-HT3 receptor antagonist | Repurposed | Achieve abstinence and reduce drinking | ||
Mifepristone | Glucocorticoid receptor antagonist | Repurposed | Reduce drinking | ||
Ibudilast | Selective PDE inhibitor and MIF inhibitor | Repurposed | Reduce drinking | ||
Prazosin and Doxazosin | Adrenergic alpha-1 antagonists | Repurposed | Reduce drinking | ||
N-Acetylcysteine | Modulates synaptic glutamatergic activity | Repurposed | Reduce drinking | ||
Suvorexant | Dual orexin antagonist | Repurposed | – | Unknown | |
ABT-436 | Highly selective vasopressin type 1B receptor antagonist | Novel agent | Increased days abstinent but did not reduce heavy drinking or craving [244] | Achieve and maintain abstinence | |
GET73 | Gamma-hydroxy-butyrate analogue; negative allosteric modulator at mGluR5 | Novel agent | Reduced ethanol intake and suppressed relapse [246] | – | Unknown |
ASP8062 | Positive allosteric modulator of GABAB receptor | Novel agent | Reduced ethanol self-administration [259] | – | Unknown |
PF-5190457 | Ghrelin receptor inverse agonist | Novel agent | Reduced alcohol craving and cue-reactivity [272] | Unknown | |
Cannabidiol | Diverse pharmacological effects | Novel agent | Reduced ethanol administration and relapse-like behavior [279] | – | Unknown |