A Brief Up-Date of the Use of Sodium Oxybate for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 13; no. 3; pp. 290 - 1
• Main Authors: Caputo, Fabio, Vignoli, Teo, Tarli, Claudia, Domenicali, Marco, Zoli, Giorgio, Bernardi, Mauro, Addolorato, Giovanni
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 05.03.2016; MDPI
• Subjects: Addictions; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alcohol Drinking - drug therapy; Alcohol use; Alcohol-Related Disorders - drug therapy; Alcoholism; Alcoholism - drug therapy; Anesthesia; Austria; Borderline personality disorder; Clinical trials; Dopamine; FDA approval; Female; Humans; Hydroxybutyrates - therapeutic use; Internal medicine; Italy; Male; Middle Aged; Review; Sleep disorders; Sodium; Sodium Oxybate - therapeutic use; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - drug therapy; Urine; Young Adult; Italy; MED, Italy; Austria; sodium oxybate; alcohol use disorder; pharmacological treatment
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13030290

The treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD) with sodium oxybate (SMO) or gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) was introduced in Italy and Austria more than 20 years and 15 years ago, respectively, and it is now widely employed to treat alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) and to maintain alcohol abstinence. These indications derive from its similar structure to the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-amino-butyric acid (GABA), exerting an ethanol-mimicking effect, because it binds to GABAB receptors. Craving for, and abuse of, SMO remain a controversial issue; even though these unfavorable effects are evident in poly-drug addicted patients and in those with psychiatric diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. In addition, despite cases of severe intoxication and deaths being widely documented when GHB is used as “street drug”; its clinical use remains safe. Thus, the aim of the present review is to examine the role of SMO in the treatment of AUD, its possible implications in reducing alcohol consumption, and cases of abuse, and severe intoxication due to SMO during its clinical use in the treatment of AUD.