The commercial weight-loss drug lorcaserin appeared to reduce the use of and craving for oxycodone in rats that had been self-administering the opioid, according to a study published online in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience.

Treatments for opioid addiction typically work by blocking or competing for receptors that opioids bind to in an attempt to reduce their euphoric effect, researchers explained. However, people who use such treatments often relapse, especially in environments that trigger memories of past opioid use.

Previous preclinical trials have suggested lorcaserin curbed cravings for nicotine and cocaine, even in tempting environments. Researchers aimed to test whether it could do the same with opioids.

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Among rats that were self-administering oxycodone, those who received lorcaserin (Belviq) were subsequently less likely to take the opioid and to demonstrate drug-seeking behaviors than those who did not receive lorcaserin. The effect held firm even when the rats were exposed to cues, including light and sound, they were conditioned to associate with oxycodone.

“The ability of lorcaserin to reduce the oxycodone self-administration and decrease cue reactivity associated with relapse highlights the therapeutic potential for lorcaserin in the treatment of opioid use disorder,” researchers wrote.

—Jolynn Tumolo

References

Neelakantan H, Holliday ED, Fox RG, et al. Lorcaserin suppresses oxycodone self-administration and relapse vulnerability in rats. ACS Chemical Neuroscience. 2017 January 20;[Epub ahead of print].

Commercial weight-loss drug could help treat opioid addiction [press release]. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society; February 8, 2017.