The orexin (hypocretin) neuropeptide system is a target for novel therapeutics to treat cocaine use disorder with alcohol coabuse.

ABSTRACT: An estimated 50-90% of individuals with cocaine use disorder (CUD) also report using alcohol. Cocaine users report coabusing alcohol to 'self-medicate' against the negative emotional side effects of the cocaine 'crash', including the onset of anxiety. Thus, pharmaceutical strategies to treat CUD would ideally reduce the motivational properties of cocaine, alcohol, and their combination, as well as reduce the onset of anxiety during drug withdrawal. The hypothalamic orexin (hypocretin) neuropeptide system offers a promising target, as orexin neurons are critically involved in activating behavioral and physiological states to respond to both positive and negative motivators. Here, we seek to describe studies demonstrating efficacy of orexin receptor antagonists in reducing cocaine, alcohol-

SUBMITTER: James MH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7736532 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature