Potential Benefits of N-Acetylcysteine in Preventing Pregabalin-Induced Seeking-Like Behavior

Substance-use disorder is globally prevalent and responsible for numerous social and medical problems. Pregabalin (Lyrica), typically used to treat diabetic neuropathy, has recently emerged as a drug of abuse. Drug abuse is associated with several neuronal changes, including the downregulation of gl...

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Published inHealthcare (Basel) Vol. 9; no. 4; p. 376
Main Authors Almalki, Atiah H, Alsaab, Hashem O, Alsanie, Walaa F, Gaber, Ahmed, Alkhalifa, Turki, Almalki, Ahmad, Alzahrani, Omar, Hardy, Ana Maria Gregio, Alhadidi, Qasim, Shah, Zahoor A, Althobaiti, Yusuf S
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Switzerland MDPI AG 29.03.2021
MDPI
Subjects
addiction
Addictions
Cocaine
CPP
Digital cameras
Drug abuse
Drug dosages
Experiments
Flooring
GLT-1
Heroin
NAC
pregabalin
R&D
Research & development
Statistical analysis
Substance abuse treatment
xCT
Saudi Arabia
United States > US
xCT
NAC
pregabalin
CPP
addiction
GLT-1
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Summary:Substance-use disorder is globally prevalent and responsible for numerous social and medical problems. Pregabalin (Lyrica), typically used to treat diabetic neuropathy, has recently emerged as a drug of abuse. Drug abuse is associated with several neuronal changes, including the downregulation of glutamate transporters such as glutamate transporter 1 and cystine/glutamate antiporter. We investigated the effects of N-acetylcysteine, a glutamate transporter 1 and xCT upregulator, on pregabalin addiction using a conditioned place preference paradigm. Pregabalin (60 mg/kg) was found to induce conditioned place preference when compared to a vehicle. A 100 mg/kg dose of N-acetylcysteine was found to block pregabalin-seeking behaviors. These results support previous findings showing that glutamate transporters play an important role in pregabalin-induced seeking behaviors. N-acetylcysteine may represent a beneficial agent in preventing the abuse potential of pregabalin.
ISSN:2227-9032
2227-9032
DOI:10.3390/healthcare9040376