Improving Translational Research Outcomes for Opioid Use Disorder Treatments.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose of review

Pharmacotherapies are the most effective means of reducing the harms associated with opioid use disorder (OUD). Translational research seeking to develop novel medications to treat OUD has been challenging due to the complex etiology of addiction. Preclinical outcome measures are often behavioral, and it is difficult, if not impossible, to fully mirror the various emotional and cognitive processes that motivate opioid use in humans. The goal of the current narrative review was to summarize the translational progression of three potential medications for OUD, which had varying levels of success.

Recent findings

Memantine, lorcaserin, and lofexidine all showed promise in preclinical studies; however, only lofexidine was able to consistently replicate these fi

SUBMITTER: Jones JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10299742 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature