Baclofen for the treatment of alcohol dependence.

The amino acid gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system. The mesolimbic dopamine system is a major component of the brain's reward pathways, and GABA neurons are part of this system, decreasing the activity of dopamine neurons through the inhibitory effects of GABA-B receptors. Because the mesolimbic dopamine system has been linked to the reinforcing effects of alcohol and other drugs of abuse, baclofen (Lioresal(®), Gablofen(®)), a GABA-B receptor agonist drug, has been investigated in preclinical studies as a potential treatment for addictions. Baclofen reduces the reinforcing effects of alcohol and other drugs in animals, providing justification for clinical studies in human beings. Two open-label and two placebo-controlled studies in humans found that baclofen was effective for reducing alcohol craving and intake, but one placebo-controlled study found no benefit for baclofen. Baclofen is a safe and well-tolerated novel drug treatment for alcohol dependence.