"New drug in the town": Ibudilast for booze dependence.
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic relapsing disorder with a major public health impact. Ibudilast, a neuroimmune modulator which selectively inhibits phosphodiesterases (PDE)-3, -4, -10, and -11, and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), shows promise as a novel pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder (AUD) in a recent study published in Translational Psychiatry Journal.
Grodin et al examined the efficacy of ibudilast to improve negative mood, reduce heavy drinking, and attenuate neural reward signals in individuals with AUD. Their findings extend preclinical and human laboratory studies of the utility of ibudilast to treat AUD and suggest a biobehavioral mechanism through which ibudilast acts by reducing the rewarding response to alcohol cues in the brain leading to a reduction in heavy drinking.
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic relapsing disorder with a major public health impact. Over 14 million adults in the United States have an AUD; however, only 8% of adults with current AUD received treatment.
Only four pharmacotherapies are currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of AUD, - disulfiram (Antabuse), acamprosate, oral naltrexone, and extended-release injectable naltrexone. These medications are only modestly effective. Therefore, there is a clear need to develop more efficacious treatments, particularly those with novel molecular targets. To that end, the modulation of neuroimmune signaling is a promising AUD treatment target.
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.