Posted on 02/21/2023 8:45:51 PM PST by ConservativeMind
Prazosin, a medication FDA-approved for hypertension and used off-label for alcohol use disorder, may help prevent drinking relapse in people with cardiovascular or behavioral symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, according to a new study involving active-duty soldiers. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is prevalent among soldiers.
Prazosin reduces the noradrenergic signaling that is key to regulating the brain stress response. Overactivity of the noradrenergic system produces irritability, anxiety, "fight or flight" responses, and sleep disturbance. Noradrenergic activity can increase during abstinence from drinking; consequently, it contributes to mood disturbances, insomnia, and other distressing symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and to the "relief cravings" that can lead to relapse.
Elevated noradrenergic activity produces elevated blood pressure and heart rate symptomatic of alcohol withdrawal. Previous research has pointed to the potential of prazosin for reducing alcohol cravings. For the study, investigators designed a randomized control trial of prazosin among US active-duty soldiers.
The soldiers' alcohol use had declined steeply even before they were randomized. Nevertheless, on average, those taking prazosin experienced a modest but significant reduction in drinks per day compared to those taking placebo. The differences were more striking among specific subgroups. The 15 soldiers with elevated heart rates were at or near zero drinks by week nine and sustained this through the final four weeks of the study (after the outpatient program ended).
Overall, prazosin did not appear to reduce alcohol cravings more than placebo. Still, within the prazosin group, soldiers with PTSD did experience relief from cravings. This is likely a result of the medication's countering effect on excessive noradrenergic signaling in PTSD. Depression symptoms were marginally lower among the prazosin group than the placebo controls.
Among soldiers with elevated cardiovascular measures, the benefit of prazosin in reducing drinking was notable despite participants' low alcohol consumption at the start of the study.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
The drug is very cheap and is available today:
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