New Compound May Help Prevent Relapse

A new synthetic compound, known as MTIP, has been found to prevent alcoholic behavior relapse in animals by blocking stress response. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism scientists demonstrated that MTIP blocks chemical signals which are active in the brain's response to stress and therefore stop excessive drinking and prevent relapse.

"This study shows the activity of a compound that potentially could be used in human subjects," says George Koob, PhD, of the Scripps Research Institute in a news release. "It moves the field over another translational barrier, closer to the day when the dark side of addiction is treated."

The compound targets a corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the brain associated with stress. The level of CRF increases after drinking and returns to normal quickly for drinkers not alcohol dependent, but becomes overactive over a longer term for those who are alcohol dependent.

Markus Heilig, MD, PhD and his researchers, working with alcohol-dependent rats, found:

• MTIP blocked CRF activity in stressful situations, without affecting its activity under normal circumstances.

• MTIP prevented excessive drinking in both rats bred to consume more alcohol and in rats that developed alcohol dependence.

• MTIP did not lower levels of drinking in rats not alcohol dependent.

• MTIP reduced the anxiety that usually develops in rats experiencing a "hangover."

The study appears in The Journal of Neuroscience.

More Information:

• Relapse Triggers
  
• Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal
  
• Alcoholism FAQs