A controlled trial of flumazenil and gabapentin for initial treatment of methylamphetamine dependence

Journal of Psychopharmacology
Harold C UrschelMichael Baron

Abstract

Drug use has been associated with craving, which may be described as a powerful and sometimes overwhelming urge to use the drug. Patients seeking treatment for methylamphetamine dependence must cope with drug cravings as they engage in psychosocial treatments. Changes in brain GABA(A) receptors during substance use and withdrawal provide a neurobiological basis for craving and associated anxiety. Flumazenil (a benzodiazepine antagonist) plus gabapentin (an antiepileptic) were compared with placebo in a randomized, double-blind study to assess the effects on craving during initial treatment for methylamphetamine dependence. Evaluation was conducted over a 30-day period. Craving and drug use were found to be highly correlated. Craving was reduced significantly in the flumazenil plus gabapentin group compared with placebo following the initial treatment period and throughout the 30 days. Decreased methylamphetamine use was also observed, as measured by urine drug screens and self-reports.

References

Apr 9, 1981·Nature·W HunkelerW Haefely
Feb 1, 1994·Psychopharmacology·F KapczinskiM Lader
Oct 15, 1996·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·S GrantA Margolin
Jan 20, 1998·The American Journal of Psychiatry·L C MaasP F Renshaw
May 27, 1999·Alcohol and Alcoholism : International Journal of the Medical Council on Alcoholism·R VerheulP Geerlings
Dec 1, 2000·The American Journal of Psychiatry·W N Raby
Jan 4, 2001·The American Journal of Psychiatry·B E WexlerJ C Gore
Oct 5, 2001·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·S E Hyman, R C Malenka
Nov 23, 2001·Journal of Psychoactive Drugs·H MyrickM Measom
Jan 5, 2002·Neurological Research·J A Dougherty, D H Rhoney
Oct 3, 2002·The American Journal of Psychiatry·Rita Z Goldstein, Nora D Volkow
Jul 2, 2003·The American Journal of Psychiatry·Roger D WeissKarla Moras
Mar 3, 2005·Neuropsychobiology·Giovanni AddoloratoGiovanni Gasbarrini
Dec 20, 2005·Neurochemical Research·Richard W OlsenIgor Spigelman
Aug 11, 2007·Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs·Damaris J RohsenowPeter M Monti

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 2, 2012·Journal of Anxiety Disorders·Frank J FarachPeter P Roy-Byrne
Dec 16, 2017·Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs·Barbara J MasonFarhad Shadan

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
pharmacotherapy

Software Mentioned

COSTART

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Addiction

This feed focuses mechanisms underlying addiction and addictive behaviour including heroin and opium dependence, alcohol intoxication, gambling, and tobacco addiction.

Related Papers

International Clinical Psychopharmacology
Douglas FeltnerAtul C Pande
European Neuropsychopharmacology : the Journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology
Dan J SteinFrancine Mandel
JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association
John H KrystalVeterans Affairs Cooperative Study No. 504 Group
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved