Nicotinic receptor modulation to treat alcohol and drug dependence.

ABSTRACT: Alcohol and drug dependence are serious public health problems worldwide. The prevalence of alcohol and drug dependence in the United States and other parts of the world is significant. Given the limitations in the efficacy of current pharmacotherapies to treat these disorders, research in developing alternative pharmacotherapies continues. Preclinical and clinical evidence thus far has indicated that brain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are important pharmacological targets for the development of medications to treat alcohol and drug dependence. The nAChRs are a super family of ligand gated ion channels, and are expressed throughout the brain with twelve neuronal nAChR subunits (α2-α10 and β2-β4) identified. Here, we review preclinical and clinical evidence involving a number

SUBMITTER: Rahman S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4295535 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature