Novel Opipramol-Baclofen Combination Alleviates Depression and Craving and Facilitates Recovery From Substance Use Disorder—An Animal Model and a Human Study

Tzofnat Bareli, Hadas Levi Ahdoot, Hilla Ben Moshe, Royi Barnea, Gal Warhaftig, Iris Gispan, Rachel Maayan, Paola Rosca, Abraham Weizman, Gal Yadid

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5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are associated with depression and anxiety, with the latter being one of the major factors in substance-seeking and relapse. Due to dose-dependent sedative side effects there is limited efficacy of baclofen treatment for SUDs. Here we suggest the use of a novel combination of opipramol and baclofen (O/B) which is known to attenuate anxiety and depression, for the facilitation of recovery from SUDs. Since both opipramol and baclofen have a common downstream signal transduction, their individual doses could be reduced while still maintaining the benefits of the combination. We tested the O/B combination in both animals and patients. Rats treated with O/B showed significant attenuation in craving behavior and in relapse rate during withdrawal from cocaine. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study, conducted in a residential detoxification center, 14 males and 3 females, aged 28–60 years were assigned to a study (n = 6) and a placebo (n = 11) group (placebo group: 40 ± 10.5 years; O/B group 40 ± 10.8 years). The participants completed scales measuring depression, anxiety and craving symptoms and provided saliva samples for stress hormone examination [cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S)]. Participants with polysubstance use disorder (PsUD) treated with O/B showed a reduction in cravings and depression and an increase in DHEA-S and in the DHEA-S/cortisol ratio. Our findings indicate a beneficial effect of O/B treatment. This study suggests a novel candidate for pharmacological treatment of patients with SUD and comorbid mood/anxiety disorders that may facilitate their rehabilitation.

Original languageEnglish
Article number788708
JournalFrontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
Volume15
DOIs
StatePublished - 23 Dec 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2021 Bareli, Ahdoot, Ben Moshe, Barnea, Warhaftig, Gispan, Maayan, Rosca, Weizman and Yadid.

Keywords

  • addiction
  • baclofen
  • opipramol
  • stress
  • substance-induced depressive disorder
  • therapeutic center
  • treatment

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