February 22, 2023 – Researchers have found that a drug used to treat itchy skin may help control alcohol use disorder, based on a latest study.
People who took the drug as a part of an experiment reduced their alcohol consumption by greater than half – from five to 2 drinks a day, based on the study published in Journal of Clinical Investigations.
Previous studies had shown a link between the enzyme phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4), particularly the subtype PDE4b, and alcohol and nicotine dependence.
One of the newer PDE4 inhibitors, apremilast, is an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and is marketed under the name Otezla.
Through their experiments in mice, the researchers found that apremilast acted on the nucleus accumbens, the world of ​​the brain that processes incoming reward and reinforcement stimuli related to addictive substances, sex and exercise, the Science website says. New Atlas reported.
They found that the drug reduced excessive alcohol consumption in mice in a variety of situations, including binge drinking, compulsive drinking, and stress- and non-stress-related drinking.
The researchers then conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study on individuals with alcohol use disorder. The drug was administered orally. On average, the alcohol consumption of the participants who received it fell by greater than half.
“I've never seen anything like this before,” said co-author Angela Ozburn, PhD, of Oregon Health & Science University. “This is incredibly promising for the treatment of addiction in general.”
Importantly, participants within the clinical trial weren’t actively looking for any type of treatment for his or her excessive drinking. Co-senior writer Dr. Barbara Mason believes that apremilast could also be even more practical in those that are motivated to handle their drinking problem.
“The large effect of apremilast on reducing alcohol consumption, combined with its well-tolerated nature in our participants, suggests that it is an excellent candidate for further evaluation as a novel treatment for people with alcohol use disorder,” said Mason.