Dexmedetomidine HCL (BXCL501) as a potential treatment for alcohol use disorder and comorbid PTSD: A phase 1b, placebo-controlled crossover laboratory study.

Background And Objectives: Noradrenergic dysregulation is important in the pathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD); pharmacotherapies targeting adrenergic function have potential as treatment for comorbidity. Dexmedetomidine (sublingual film formulation-BXCL501; IGALMI) is a highly potent, selective ⍺2-adrenergic receptor agonist and may be superior to other pharmacotherapeutic approaches. A within subjects, phase 1b safety laboratory study was conducted to evaluate adverse effects of BXCL501 when combined with alcohol; BXCL501's potential efficacy was also explored.

Progesterone Attenuates the Stress Response in Individuals with Alcohol Dependence and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - A Pilot Study.

Objective: Evidence from laboratory studies suggests that progesterone may be effective in reducing stress and craving, and may improve cognitive performance in smokers and individuals with cocaine dependence. The objective of this study was to examine if progesterone would attenuate stress-induced craving, anxiety, affect and physiological measures, as well as improve stress-induced cognitive performance (processing speed and selective attention) in individuals diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Methods: This laboratory study included ( = 13) participants who were diagnosed with current AUD and PTSD who were randomly assigned to recive either progesterone (200mg bid) or placebo in identical looking capsules for 3 days.

Analysis of Drugs in Saliva of US Military Veterans Treated for Substance Use Disorders Using Supported Liquid Extraction and Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectral Analysis.

According to the Center for Disease Control, there were more than 107,000 US drug overdose deaths in 2021, over 80,000 of which due to opioids. One of the more vulnerable populations is US military veterans. Nearly 250,000 military veterans suffer from substance-related disorders (SRD).

Ghrelin Predicts Stimulant and Sedative Effects of Alcohol in Heavy Drinkers.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between ghrelin levels and the subjective effects of alcohol in heavy drinkers, and to compare them to healthy controls.

Methods: Ghrelin levels were collected as part of two laboratory studies. Both groups received either IV infusion of saline or high dose of alcohol (100 mg%).

Zonisamide as an Adjunctive Treatment to Cognitive Processing Therapy for Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Comorbid Alcohol Use Disorder: A Pilot Study.

Background And Objectives: There are high rates of comorbid alcohol use disorder (AUD) among those who have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ideally, treatment for comorbidity should address both disorders simultaneously. Zonisamide, an anticonvulsant, may be effective in decreasing alcohol use and may attenuate symptoms of PTSD.

Thiopental Does Not Produce Hyperalgesia: A Laboratory Study Using Two Human Experimental Pain Models.

Objective: Past investigations assessing the effects of thiopental on pain are conflicting. Although several studies demonstrate hyperalgesia as a result of barbiturate administration, others show analgesia. Our objective was to assess the effects of an infusion of the GABAA agonist thiopental, compared with placebo, in healthy participants on two subjective experimental pain paradigms: noxious electrical stimulation and intradermal capsaicin.

Ghrelin is Related to Personality Differences in Reward Sensitivity and Impulsivity.

Aims: Ghrelin, a feeding-related peptide mainly produced in the stomach, has been linked to reward mechanisms for food and drugs of abuse in addition to traits of impulsivity. This study is a secondary analysis of an existing data set designed to examine the direct relationships between fasting ghrelin levels and reward sensitivity/impulsivity in healthy social drinkers.

Methods: Participants (n = 20) were recruited from an original study examining the subjective effects of alcohol among social drinkers.

Rapid Identification of Buprenorphine in Patient Saliva.

Buprenorphine is becoming the medication of choice to help patients withdraw from opioid addiction. However, treatment is compromised by the inability of physicians to assess patient usage during scheduled examinations. Here we describe the development of a point-of-care (POC) analyzer that can rapidly measure both illicit and treatment drugs in patient saliva, ideally in the physician's office, and with a degree of accuracy similar to chromatography.

Ghrelin is Supressed by Intravenous Alcohol and is Related to Stimulant and Sedative Effects of Alcohol.

Aims: Evidence indicates that feeding-related peptides, such as ghrelin, have a role in the rewarding properties of addictive substances like alcohol. Oral alcohol administration significantly suppresses ghrelin. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of two doses of alcohol on ghrelin and examine if ghrelin levels predict the subjective effects of alcohol.

Effect of Intravenous Ethanol on Capsaicin-Induced Hyperalgesia in Human Subjects.

Background: The objective of this study was to assess ethanol's (EtOH's) effects on capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia in healthy participants. Specifically, we investigated the change in area of capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia following 3 interventions: intravenous EtOH at 2 targeted breath alcohol concentrations (BrAC), or placebo.

Methods: Eighteen participants participated in 3 test days in a randomized order.

Effects of family history of alcohol dependence on the subjective response to alcohol using the intravenous alcohol clamp.

Background: Alcohol use disorders are well recognized to be common, debilitating, and the risk of developing them is influenced by family history (FH). The subjective response to alcohol may be determined familialy and related to the risk of developing alcoholism. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences between family history positive (FHP) and family history negative (FHN) individuals in their response to alcohol within the domains of subjective, coordination, and cognitive effects using an intravenous (IV) clamping method of alcohol administration.

Subjective Effects of Thiopental in Young Adults with and without a Family History of Alcoholism.

Background: The development of alcohol use disorders is genetically influenced, and may be mediated through differences in the subjective response to alcohol. There is some evidence to suggest that response differences to alcohol could be conveyed by heritable differences in GABA receptors. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether individuals with a family history positive (FHP) for alcohol dependence would experience alterations in response to the GABA receptor agonist thiopental, in comparison to family history negative (FHN) subjects.