Pharmacological means of reducing human drug dependence: a selective and narrative review of the clinical literature

• Published in: British journal of clinical pharmacology Vol. 77; no. 2; pp. 242 - 252
• Main Author: Lin, Shih‐Ku
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.2014
• Subjects: addiction; Animals; anticraving; Behavior, Addictive - drug therapy; Behavior, Addictive - physiopathology; Behavior, Addictive - psychology; Brain - physiopathology; Clinical Trials as Topic; craving; drug dependence; Humans; Reviews; Substance-Related Disorders - drug therapy; Substance-Related Disorders - physiopathology; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; craving; drug dependence; addiction; anticraving
• ISSN: 0306-5251; 1365-2125
• DOI: 10.1111/bcp.12163

Substance abuse or addictive disorder is a global problem. A greater understanding of the associated changes in brain pathophysiology supports the notion that pharmacological treatments are part of the necessary treatment options. Craving is a core symptom of addictive disorder. It refers to a strong desire to use drugs again either to re‐experience positive effects or to diminish negative experiences. Currently there are a number of medicines that are effective in the treatment of addictive disorders. These medications can either be for substitution (same pharmacological effect as the abused substance) or anticraving (decrease the craving of the abused substance). In this MEDLNE based review, specific compounds (naltrexone, acamprosate, topiramate, disulfiram, baclofen, N‐acetylcysteine and bupropion) were selected that are known to diminish desire to use (anticraving effect) and that have been trialled for a number of different substance addictive disorders. Their therapeutic potential in clinical practice is discussed in light of their efficacy.