Dopaminergic and Glutamatergic Mechanisms in Addiction: Assessing the Therapeutic Promise of Memantine and Galantamine for Maintenance Treatment: A Review.

Addiction comes in various forms and can be related to substances like cocaine, opioids, alcohol, cannabis, amphetamine, and nicotine, as well as behaviors like gambling or sex addiction. The impact of addiction places increased economic and medical burdens on society. Currently, the management of addiction is more focused on symptomatic relief rather than targeting the reinforcing mechanisms of dependence on addictive substances and behaviors.

Galantamine as a Treatment Option for Nicotine Addiction.

The pharmacological therapy for smoking cessation recommended by National Institute for Health and care Excellence (NICE) guidelines is nicotine replacement therapy such as gum, inhalator, lozenge, nasal spray, oral spray, sublingual tablet, and transdermal patch. Medications such as bupropion and varenicline are also used. Varenicline is the only established drug used to alleviate symptoms of craving as it acts as a partial nicotine agonist.