A Gene by Medication Interaction to the Acute Effects of Alcohol
Status:
Terminated
Trial end date:
2012-04-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Alcohol dependence, or "alcoholism", affects approximately 14 million Americans. Currently,
only three pharmacotherapies (disulfiram, naltrexone, and acamprosate) have been approved for
the treatment of alcohol dependence and these medications are, at best, moderately
successful. Thus, there is a great need for the examination of other biological systems,
which contribute/influence the drug reward/addiction pathways within the brain, such that the
discovery of new targets and new pharmacotherapies will be possible. Other biological systems
in addition to dopamine, such as serotonin, and norepinephrine (NE) are thought to be
important in several aspects of addiction, including reward, craving and depression.
This study will examine the effects of a 5 day course of atomoxetine (a selective NE
transporter (NET) inhibitor) (80 mg/day; Strattera or placebo) on alcohol-elicited craving
and sensitivity to alcohol. The novelty of this study is that of atomoxetine and the fact
that it targets NET, neither of which has heretofore been examined in the context of alcohol
dependence. It is hopeful that this study, of 64 total individuals, will provide the PI with
sufficient preliminary data to submit a subsequent R01 application to study atomoxetine and
the involvement of specific single nucleotide polymorphisms within the NET gene on
alcohol-related phenotypes in alcohol dependent and non-dependent populations. The long-term
objective of this research is to develop more efficacious treatment interventions for alcohol
abuse and dependence.
Phase:
Phase 1
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University of Virginia
Collaborator:
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)