Title:Novel Targets Explored in the Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome
Volume: 20
Issue: 2
Author(s): Antra Gupta, Heena Khan, Amarjot Kaur and Thakur Gurjeet Singh*
Affiliation:
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab,India
Keywords:
Ethanol, gama aminobutyric acid, dopamine, N methyl aspartate, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, targets.
Abstract: Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS) is characterized as the termination of chronic
and sustained alcohol use that leads to severe symptoms of distress or loss of daily functions when
less or no alcohol is consumed. It is a debilitating manifestation of alcohol dependence and responds
poorly to the available clinical therapies. Alcohol drinking is continuously increasing all
over the world. It causes 3.3 million deaths every year (5.9% of all deaths) and 5.1% of the global
burden of disease. Alcohol Withdrawal syndrome leads to various changes in the brain's neurotransmitters
system, such as GABA, glutamate, non-epinephrine, serotonin. These symptoms arose
from the imbalance in brain receptors between gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and N methyl
aspartate (NMDA) that develop on the discontinuation of alcohol. Studies from various in vivo and
in vitro animal models of alcohol withdrawal explored new targets for the treatment of alcohol
withdrawal syndrome. Advancements in the elucidation of the AWS mechanism have revealed a
number of key targets that hypothesize to modulate clinical status. The present review discusses
the pathophysiology, neurobiology, and treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome and its novel
targets like corticotrophin-releasing factor, sigma, melanocortin-4 receptors, opioid, potassium
channels, ghrelin, and endocannabinoid receptors, and gut microbiota. This review discusses the
various clinical and pre-clinical aspects related to alcohol dependence. The exploration of novel
pharmacological targets may provide effective therapeutic interventions for the management of alcohol
withdrawal syndrome.