There is no approved treatment for dual alcohol/nicotine dependencies. A preliminary double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical study with 30 alcoholic smokers taking ү-Aminobutyric Acid (GABAB) receptor agonist, baclofen (80 mg/day), or placebo demonstrated the possible role of baclofen in treatment of alcoholic smokers. Blood samples were collected at Weeks 0-4-8-12 to analyze a series of hormone levels in 20 patients. The medication exposure was calculated as the area-under-the-curve (AUC) and an independent samples t-test was used to detect statistical difference. Patients taking baclofen reported lower levels of beta-endorphin compared to placebo. [t(18)=2.175, p=.043]. No differences were detected in other hormones tested. This study provides preliminary evidence suggesting a possible role of baclofen in the treatment of alcoholic smokers via hormone modulation.
Tran, Harrison,
"Analysis of endogenous hormones in alcoholic smokers"
(2017).
Summer Research Symposium.
Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library.
https://doi.org/10.26300/wtn5-jg92
Each year, Brown University showcases the research of its undergraduates at the Summer Research Symposium. More than half of the student-researchers are UTRA recipients, while others receive funding from a variety of Brown-administered and national programs and fellowships and go …
