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

203
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...
203
Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents01:23

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

220
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...
220
Drug Therapy01:28

Drug Therapy

42
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
42
Depressants01:28

Depressants

107
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...
107
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents01:17

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

168
Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
168
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment01:22

Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment

179
Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is pathologically identified by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein. AD pharmacotherapy aims to manage cognitive symptoms, delay disease progression, and treat behavioral symptoms. The treatment is primarily symptomatic and palliative, with no definitive disease-modifying therapy available. Cholinesterase inhibitors, including donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne), are...
179

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Relation between socio-economic deprivation and chronic pain-related burden: a cross-sectional evaluation in a secondary care pain rehabilitation clinic.

BMJ public health·2026
Same author

Bayesian Machine Learning Tools for Alcohol Use Disorder Research: The bpaup R Package.

Multivariate behavioral research·2026
Same author

Examining heterogeneity in pathways between alcohol-related factors and drinking during topiramate pharmacotherapy: A person-specific analysis.

Drug and alcohol dependence·2026
Same author

The Effects of Personalized Feedback About ALDH2*2, Alcohol Use, and Associated Health Risks on Drinking Intention and Consumption: The Role of Self-Efficacy and Perceived Threat.

Alcohol, clinical & experimental research·2026
Same author

Examining the Impact of Trial Length on Detecting Medication Effects for Alcohol Use Disorder: A Meta-Regression Study.

Alcohol, clinical & experimental research·2026
Same author

Telehealth-Delivered Mindfulness-Based Intervention: Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial for Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder.

JMIR research protocols·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2025

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

8.0K

Novel medications for problematic alcohol use.

Markus Heilig1, Katie Witkiewitz2, Lara A Ray3

  • 1Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, and Department of Psychiatry, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.

The Journal of Clinical Investigation
|June 3, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Effective treatments for alcohol-related harm exist but are underutilized. New medications targeting GPCRs, endocrine, and immune systems offer promise for personalized and improved patient outcomes.

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

888
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

2.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 24, 2025

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

8.0K
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

888
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

2.2K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Alcohol-related harm is a significant global health burden.
  • Interventions range from brief counseling for mild issues to medical treatment for severe pathology.
  • Current evidence-based treatments are underutilized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review clinical conditions for pharmacotherapy in alcohol use disorders.
  • To discuss meaningful clinical benefit endpoints.
  • To explore novel therapeutic targets for alcohol-related harm.

Main Methods:

  • Delineation of clinical conditions for pharmacotherapy based on diagnostic systems.
  • Review of promising drug development targets.
  • Categorization of targets into GPCRs, endocrine systems, and immune modulators.

Main Results:

  • Pharmacotherapy is indicated for alcohol use disorder with significant behavioral pathology.
  • Novel targets in GPCRs, endocrine, and immune systems show therapeutic potential.
  • Personalized medicine approaches can improve treatment efficacy and tolerability.

Conclusions:

  • Expanding the pharmacotherapy toolkit is crucial for improving treatment of alcohol-related harm.
  • Targeting GPCRs, endocrine, and immune pathways offers promising avenues for new medications.
  • Increased clinical uptake of effective treatments, including novel pharmacotherapies, can reduce the global burden of alcohol-related harm.