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Intranasal oxytocin blocks alcohol withdrawal in human subjects

Cort A Pedersen1, Kelly L Smedley, Jane Leserman

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7160, USA. cort_pedersen@med.unc.edu

Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research
|October 3, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Oxytocin (OT) effectively reduced alcohol withdrawal symptoms in humans, requiring less medication and lowering craving scores. This study suggests OT may be a superior alternative to benzodiazepines for managing alcohol withdrawal.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide shown to reduce alcohol tolerance and withdrawal in rodents.
  • Intranasal administration allows OT to effectively reach the brain in human subjects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of intranasal oxytocin in mitigating alcohol withdrawal symptoms in human subjects.
  • To compare oxytocin's effects against a placebo in a randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, double-blind trial administered intranasal oxytocin (24 IU/dose) or placebo twice daily for 3 days to alcohol-dependent subjects undergoing medical detoxification.
  • Alcohol withdrawal severity was assessed using the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA) and Alcohol Withdrawal Symptom Checklist (AWSC).
  • Craving and mood states were evaluated using the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale, Alcohol Craving Visual Analog Scale (ACVAS), and Profile of Mood States (POMS).

Main Results:

  • Oxytocin significantly reduced the total amount of lorazepam needed for detoxification compared to placebo (3.4 mg vs. 16.5 mg).
  • Subjects receiving oxytocin exhibited lower mean CIWA scores on admission days 1 and 2, and reduced AWSC scores.
  • Oxytocin treatment led to lower ACVAS ratings and decreased POMS Tension/Anxiety subscale scores on day 2.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides the first evidence that oxytocin treatment can effectively block alcohol withdrawal symptoms in humans.
  • Findings align with rodent studies, indicating oxytocin inhibits alcohol neuroadaptation and withdrawal.
  • Oxytocin may offer advantages over benzodiazepines by potentially reversing sedative-hypnotic tolerance, warranting further investigation in outpatient settings.

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