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Co‐Administration of Low‐Dose Naltrexone and Bupropion Reduces Alcohol Drinking in Alcohol‐Preferring (P) Rats
Author(s) -
Nicholson Emily R.,
Dilley Julian E.,
Froehlich Janice C.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/acer.13577
Subject(s) - naltrexone , alcohol , medicine , alcohol intake , alcohol dependence , ethanol , bupropion , turnover , self administration , pharmacology , anesthesia , chemistry , opioid , biochemistry , receptor , management , pathology , smoking cessation , economics
Background This study examined whether combining naltrexone ( NTX ) with bupropion ( BUP ) is more effective in reducing alcohol drinking in alcohol‐preferring (P) rats with a genetic predisposition toward high voluntary alcohol intake than either drug alone. Methods Alcohol‐experienced, adult, male, P rats were fed NTX alone in a dose of 10.0 mg/kg BW , BUP alone in a dose of 10.0 mg/kg BW , BUP alone in a dose of 20.0 mg/kg BW , NTX (10.0 mg/kg BW ) + BUP (10.0 mg/kg BW ), or vehicle ( VEH ) at 1 hour prior to onset of a daily 2‐hour alcohol access period for 5 consecutive days. Results When administered alone, neither NTX (10.0 mg/kg BW ) nor BUP , in either of 2 doses (10.0 mg/kg BW or 20.0 mg/kg BW ), reduced voluntary alcohol intake in P rats. However, NTX combined with BUP (10.0 mg/kg NTX + 10.0 mg/kg BUP ) and given as a single medication significantly reduced alcohol consumption throughout prolonged treatment. Conclusions Combining low doses of NTX and BUP , each of which is ineffective when given alone, increases the efficacy of the medication. Low drug doses circumvent the problem of negative side effects that can occur with higher doses of either drug. A reduction in side effects can facilitate patient compliance and improve clinical outcomes for alcoholics and heavy drinkers who want to reduce their alcohol intake. The results, together with those from our prior studies, demonstrate the strength of a combinatorial pharmacotherapeutic approach to the treatment of alcohol use disorder.