Alternative use of suvorexant (Belsomra^®) for the prevention of alcohol drinking and seeking in rats with a history of alcohol dependence.

ABSTRACT: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is one of the most treatment-resistant medical conditions globally. The orexin (Orx) system regulates diverse physiological processes, including stress, and is a system of interest for the development of pharmaceuticals to treat substance use disorders, particularly AUD. The present study tested the ability of the dual orexin receptor antagonist suvorexant (SUV), marketed by Merck as Belsomra^®, for the treatment of insomnia, to decrease alcohol self-administration and the stress-induced reinstatement of alcohol-seeking behavior in male Wistar rats with a history of alcohol dependence. Rats were trained to orally self-administer 10% alcohol (30 min/day for 3 weeks) and were either made dependent via chronic intermittent alcohol vapor exposure (14 h ON,

SUBMITTER: Flores-Ramirez FJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9813433 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature