Howland Robert H
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2012 Oct;50(10):11-4. doi: 10.3928/02793695-20120906-92. Epub 2012 Sep 17.
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.
氨基酸γ-氨基丁酸（GABA）是神经系统中的主要抑制性神经递质。中脑边缘多巴胺系统是大脑奖赏通路的主要组成部分，GABA神经元是该系统的一部分，通过GABA-B受体的抑制作用降低多巴胺能神经元的活性。由于中脑边缘多巴胺系统与酒精和其他滥用药物的强化作用有关，巴氯芬（力奥来素（®），凯立通（®）），一种GABA-B受体激动剂药物，已在临床前研究中作为成瘾的潜在治疗方法进行了研究。巴氯芬可降低动物对酒精和其他药物的强化作用，为人类临床研究提供了依据。两项开放标签和两项安慰剂对照的人体研究发现，巴氯芬对减少酒精渴望和摄入量有效，但一项安慰剂对照研究发现巴氯芬没有益处。巴氯芬是一种安全且耐受性良好的治疗酒精依赖的新型药物。
