The Role of Brief Potent Glutamatergic Modulation in Addressing Problem Drinking

Alterations in glutamate neurotransmission are an important target of pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder. Our investigations with glutamate modulators in drug and alcohol dependent individuals suggest that they may exert unique therapeutic effects on dependence-related vulnerabilities and may also address problem drinking in alcohol dependent individuals. The proposed project will expand on our prior research by testing the efficacy of glutamate modulators in a larger population of non-depressed individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD); it also aims to investigate, using a 2 by 2 factorial (2x2) design, the hypothesis that the effects of the glutamate modulator are enhanced when combined with behavioral treatment. It, therefore, has the potential to deepen our understanding of the therapeutic role of glutamate modulators in AUD treatment, as well as to provide further evidence for the efficacy of this novel pharmacotherapy strategy in addressing problem use

Inclusion criteria

• Active alcohol use disorder, with at least 4 heavy drinking day over the past 7 days (greater than 4 drinks a day for males, greater than 3 drinks for females). In the case of the use of other drugs, alcohol is designated as the primary drug
• Physically healthy
• No adverse reactions to study medications
• 21-70 years of age
• Capacity to consent and comply with study procedures, including sufficient proficiency in English
• Seeking to reduce or stop alcohol use

Exclusion criteria

• Meets DSM IV criteria for current major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or any psychotic illness, including substance-induced psychosis
• Physiological dependence on another substance, such as opioids or benzodiazepines, excluding caffeine, nicotine, and cannabis
• Delirium, Dementia, Amnesia, Cognitive Disorders, or Dissociative disorders
• Current suicide risk or a history of suicide attempt within the past year
• Inability to safely initiate 24 hours of abstinence from alcohol, as evidenced by CIWA greater than 10 during screening; history of severe withdrawal phenomena over the past 6 months (e.g., inpatient stabilization, withdrawal-related seizure); or self-reported inability to maintain abstinence for 24 hours.
• Pregnant or interested in becoming pregnant during the study period
• Any of the following cardiac conditions: clinically significant left ventricular hypertrophy, angina, clinically significant arrhythmia, or mitral valve prolapse
• Unstable physical disorders which might make participation hazardous such as hypertension (>160/90), anemia, active hepatitis or other liver disease (transaminase levels < 2-3 X the upper limit of normal will be considered acceptable), epilepsy, or untreated diabetes. Participants reporting HIV+ status will be asked to provide information about their current treatment, including all medications. Participants who are on the antiretroviral ritonavir (Norvir) will be excluded due to the possibility that study medications in combination with this medication may increase the risk of drug-induced hepatitis.
• Previous history of misuse or abuse of study medications, and a history of an adverse reaction/experience with prior exposure to study medications
• Recent history of significant violance
• On psychotropic or other medications whose effect could be disrupted by participation in the study