DRUG TO CURB SMOKING ALSO CUTS ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
A drug already approved for nicotine addiction also curbs alcohol
dependence, a new animal study shows. One dose alone cut drinking
in half. The finding is particularly encouraging, the researchers
say, because the animals did not turn to drinking in excess after
the drug was stopped, a common pattern when people take current
drugs to curb alcohol consumption.
In addition, the drug did not kill appetite, which the most
effective drug to curb alcohol dependence does.
In the study, rats had access to unlimited amounts of alcohol.
Under these conditions, they steadily increased their alcohol
intake over several months. But the first day they received the
drug, they cut their drinking in half. They received the drug
every other day for a week, and during this period, maintained
their lower drinking level. When the drug was discontinued, they
returned to their previous level - but no higher.
The research is being published online by "The Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences." The paper goes online the
week of July 9. The embargo is set for 5 PM (ET) Monday, July 9.
