Heavy drinkers experience high stress, among other problems, but a recent study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) offers a ray of hope to them. The study comes up with a new medication effective in targeting the brain’s stress system that may help reduce drinking in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD).

“Medications have become an important tool for treating alcohol use disorders, but current medications are not effective for all people with AUDs,” said NIAAA Director George F. Koob, Ph.D. The NIAAA is striving to come up with new medicines to address the alcohol problem that has become a big health concern in the United States today.

“We’re committed to developing new medications to provide effective therapy to a broader spectrum of people with AUDs,” Koob added.

The NIAAA researchers, led by acting director of the NIAAA Division of Medications Development Raye Litten, Ph.D., conducted a randomized clinical trial of a new compound, called ABT-436. It is designed to block the effects of vasopressin, a neuropeptide produced in the hypothalamus of the brain. Vasopressin is responsible for regulating the pituitary adrenal axis and other brain circuits involved in emotion. “As such, it plays a role in regulating stress, anxiety, and their interaction with AUD,” said Dr. Litten.

The researchers, along with NIAAA’s multi-center Clinical Investigations Group, enrolled 144 alcohol-dependent adult men and women for a 12-week study.

The female participants consumed at least 28 drinks per week, while the male participants consumed at least 35 drinks per week, during a 28-day baseline period. After that the participants were randomly given either placebo tablets or the ones containing the ABT-436 compound. They were then monitored for alcohol consumption, for their mood changes, and for smoking habits. Mood changes and smoking habits are known to vary and fluctuate with alcohol consumption.

New compound helped in alcohol abstinence

The researchers found a difference in the effects of the placebo tablets and the ones mixed with the ABT-436 compound. They noticed that the participants who’d received the ABT-436 compound experienced more days of alcohol abstinence than others who had received only the placebo tablets.

They also observed that highly stressed participants appeared to respond better to ABT-436, in both the frequency of their drinking and the number of heavy drinking days they experienced, which decreased considerably.

“Our findings suggest that potential future studies with drugs targeting vasopressin blockade should focus on populations of people with AUD who also report high levels of stress,” said first author Megan Ryan.

Smokers also to benefit

The researchers noted that even smokers might benefit from ABT-436. It was found that apart from its effects on alcohol consumption, the participants receiving the new compound experienced a reduction in smoking as well. The researchers suspected that ABT-436 might be targeting the same areas in the brain that relate to withdrawal and stress.

Apparently, along with the process of influencing alcohol use, ABT-436 might also be influencing tobacco use in people. However, they call for more in-depth research into this.

Seeking recovery from alcoholism

Alcohol addiction can be debilitating when it becomes chronic, and at times fatal too. However, it is treatable; the earlier, the better. Instead of smearing an alcoholic, it is better to encourage him or her to seek treatment at the earliest.

If a loved one is abusing alcohol and you are scouting for alcohol addiction treatment centers, contact the Alcohol Addiction Get Help for a prompt response. Call at our 24/7 alcohol addiction helpline number 866–281–3014 to know about the best alcohol addiction treatment in your locality.