Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine01:27

CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine

1.4K
Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...
1.4K
Depressants01:28

Depressants

487
Depressant drugs, including alcohol and sedative-hypnotics, diminish central nervous system activity by enhancing the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that reduces brain activity and promotes relaxation. These substances can have various therapeutic uses but also pose significant risks, especially when misused or combined.
Alcohol is a common depressant that can induce a sense of relaxation and reduced inhibition at low doses. Contrary to its occasional...
487
Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents01:23

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

970
Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...
970
Drug Therapy01:28

Drug Therapy

315
The advent of drug therapy has profoundly shaped modern mental health care, providing targeted treatments for a range of psychological disorders. Psychotherapeutic drugs, classified into antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, address symptoms across anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. While these medications have transformed patient outcomes, they require careful management due to their potential side effects and limitations.
Antianxiety Medications
315
Antidepressant Drugs: Overview01:25

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

1.6K
Antidepressant drugs are a class of medications primarily used for treating various mood disorders, including major depression, anxiety disorders, and other related conditions. These medicines work by modulating the neurotransmitter balance within the brain, alleviating depressive symptoms. Antidepressants can be broadly categorized into several groups according to their mechanism of action and chemical structure: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-Norepinephrine...
1.6K
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep01:24

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

463
Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
463

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Deer Antler Extract Promotes Osteoblast Differentiation and Improves Bone Microarchitecture in an Ovariectomy-Induced Osteoporosis Model.

Preventive nutrition and food science·2026
Same author

Red ginseng-derived nanovesicles to modulate osteoblast and osteoclastogenesis for osteoporosis therapy.

Asian journal of pharmaceutical sciences·2026
Same author

Fatal Viral Rhombencephalitis Mimicking Acute Necrotizing Encephalitis in a Young Female: An Autopsy Case Report.

The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology·2026
Same author

Therapeutic potential of panax ginseng-derived nanovesicles in osteoporosis through enhanced osteoblast.

Journal of ginseng research·2026
Same author

Phase-based versus non-phase-based psychological interventions for complex PTSD: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

European journal of psychotraumatology·2026
Same author

Decursin, a bioactive compound from Angelica gigas, suppresses mast cell activation by targeting Fyn kinase and attenuates IgE-mediated anaphylactic responses in mice.

European journal of pharmacology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice
07:31

Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice

Published on: January 7, 2019

8.7K

Medications for alcohol use disorders: An overview.

Mohammed Akbar1, Mark Egli1, Young-Eun Cho2

  • 1Division of Neuroscience and Behavior, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.

Pharmacology & Therapeutics
|December 2, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Treating alcohol use disorders (AUDs) requires new therapies as current medications don't fully counteract alcohol's adverse effects. This review explores approved and investigational drugs for AUD treatment and relapse prevention.

Keywords:
AddictionAlcoholAlcoholismBrain circuitryCravingNeurotransmitters

More Related Videos

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder
05:12

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Published on: June 23, 2023

1.6K
Investigating Drivers of Antireward in Addiction Behavior with Anatomically Specific Single-Cell Gene Expression Methods
09:29

Investigating Drivers of Antireward in Addiction Behavior with Anatomically Specific Single-Cell Gene Expression Methods

Published on: August 4, 2022

2.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice
07:31

Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice

Published on: January 7, 2019

8.7K
Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder
05:12

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Published on: June 23, 2023

1.6K
Investigating Drivers of Antireward in Addiction Behavior with Anatomically Specific Single-Cell Gene Expression Methods
09:29

Investigating Drivers of Antireward in Addiction Behavior with Anatomically Specific Single-Cell Gene Expression Methods

Published on: August 4, 2022

2.8K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Addiction Medicine

Background:

  • Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) cause significant socio-behavioral and pathophysiological changes, impacting the brain and organs.
  • Chronic excessive alcohol consumption leads to cell death, organ damage, and increased mortality.
  • Alcohol abstinence is the most effective therapy, but many patients struggle to achieve or maintain it due to withdrawal and relapse risks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review FDA-approved medications for treating AUDs and their mechanisms of action.
  • To summarize medications currently in preclinical and clinical trials for AUD treatment.
  • To explore the potential repurposing of existing drugs (anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, antidepressants) for alcoholism and AUDs.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of FDA-approved drugs for AUDs.
  • Summary of ongoing preclinical and clinical trials for novel AUD therapeutics.
  • Analysis of drug repurposing strategies for alcoholism treatment.

Main Results:

  • Several medications are available to manage alcohol withdrawal and reduce craving, supporting abstinence.
  • No current drug fully reverses the detrimental effects of excessive alcohol intake.
  • Investigational drugs and repurposed medications show promise for improved AUD management.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted therapies are crucial for patients with AUDs who cannot achieve abstinence.
  • Further research into novel and repurposed medications is needed to combat the adverse effects of alcohol.
  • A comprehensive approach combining existing and emerging pharmacological interventions is essential for effective AUD treatment.