Efficacy of medications approved for the treatment of alcohol dependence and alcohol withdrawal syndrome in female patients: A descriptive review

European Addiction Research

Volumn 22, Issue 1, 2016, Pages 1-16

  Agabio, Roberta ^a   Pani, Pier Paolo ^b   Preti, Antonio ^c   Gessa, Gian Luigi ^a,d   Franconi, Flavia ^e  

^a UNIVERSITY OF CAGLIARI   (Italy)

^b Territorial Department of Nephrology and Dialysis   (Italy)

^c DEPARTMENT OF RADIOLOGY   (Italy)

^d CNR   (Italy)

^e UNIVERSITY OF SASSARI   (Italy)

Author keywords

Alcohol dependence; Alcohol withdrawal syndrome; Gender differences; Pharmacotherapy; Women

Indexed keywords

ACAMPROSATE; ANTICONVULSIVE AGENT; BENZODIAZEPINE DERIVATIVE; DISULFIRAM; NALMEFENE; NALTREXONE; DRUGS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF ADDICTION; TAURINE;

ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL; ALCOHOLISM; DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH; DRUG EFFICACY; FEMALE; HUMAN; MALE; META ANALYSIS; NAUSEA; PRIORITY JOURNAL; RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL (TOPIC); RELAPSE; REVIEW; SEX DIFFERENCE; TREATMENT RESPONSE; ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL DELIRIUM; ANALOGS AND DERIVATIVES; TREATMENT OUTCOME;

ALCOHOL DETERRENTS; ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL DELIRIUM; ALCOHOLISM; ANTICONVULSANTS; BENZODIAZEPINES; DISULFIRAM; FEMALE; HUMANS; MALE; NALTREXONE; SEX FACTORS; TAURINE; TREATMENT OUTCOME;

EID: 84954392045     PISSN: 10226877     EISSN: 14219891     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1159/000433579     Document Type: Review

References (95)

1. Chick J, Nutt DJ. Substitution therapy for alcoholism: time for a reappraisal?. J Psychopharmacol 2012; 26: 205-212.
2. Franck J, Jayaram-Lindstrom N. Pharmacotherapy for alcohol dependence: status of current treatments. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2013; 23: 692-699.
3. Zindel LR, Kranzler HR. Pharmacotherapy of alcohol use disorders: seventy-five years of progress. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2014; 75: 79-88.
4. Suh JJ, Pettinati HM, Kampman KM, O'Brien CP. The status of disulfiram: a half of a century later. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2006; 26: 290-302.
5. Skinner MD, Lahmek P, Pham H, Aubin HJ. Disulfiram efficacy in the treatment of alcohol dependence: a meta-Analysis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e87366.
6. Gastfriend DR. Intramuscular extended-release naltrexone: current evidence. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2011; 1216: 144-166.
7. Swift RM. Naltrexone and nalmefene: any meaningful difference?. Biol Psychiatry 2013; 73: 700-701.
8. Aubin HJ, Daeppen JB. Emerging pharmacotherapies for alcohol dependence: a systematic review focusing on reduction in consumption. Drug Alcohol Depend 2013; 133: 15-29.
9. Mark TL, Kassed CA, Vandivort-Warren R, Levit KR, Kranzler HR. Alcohol and opioid dependence medications: prescription trends, overall and by physician specialty. Drug Alcohol Depend 2009; 99: 345-349.
10. Witkiewitz K, Saville K, Hamreus K. Acamprosate for treatment of alcohol dependence: mechanisms, efficacy, and clinical utility. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2012; 8: 45-53.
11. Littleton JM. Acamprosate in alcohol dependence: implications of a unique mechanism of action. J Addict Med 2007; 1: 115-125.
12. Kiefer F, Mann K. Acamprosate: how, where, and for whom does it work?. Mechanism of action, treatment targets, and individualized therapy. Curr Pharm Des 2010; 16: 2098-2102.
13. Agabio R, Carai MAM, Gessa GL, Colombo G. Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB); in Koob GF, Le Moal M, Thompson RF (eds): Encyclopedia of Behavioral Neuroscience, Elsevier Science, 2010.
14. Carter LP, Pardi D, Gorsline J, Griffiths RR. Illicit gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and pharmaceutical sodium oxybate (Xyrem): differences in characteristics and misuse. Drug Alcohol Depend 2009; 104: 1-10.
15. van Amsterdam JG, Brunt TM, McMaster MT, Niesink RJ. Possible long-Term effects of γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) due to neurotoxicity and overdose. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2012; 36: 1217-1227.
16. Mayo-Smith MF. Pharmacological management of alcohol withdrawal. A meta-Analysis and evidence-based practice guideline. JAMA 1997; 278: 144-151.
17. Hall W, Zador D. The alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Lancet 1997; 349: 1897-1900.
18. Kosten TR, O'Connor PG. Management of drug and alcohol withdrawal. N Engl J Med 2003; 348: 1786-1795.
19. Johnson BA. Medication treatment of different types of alcoholism. Am J Psychiatry 2010; 167: 630-639.
20. Leggio L, Kenna GA, Fenton M, Bonenfant E, Swift RM. Typologies of alcohol dependence. From Jellinek to genetics and beyond. Neuropsychol Rev 2009; 19: 115-129.
21. Franconi F, Brunelleschi S, Steardo L, Cuomo V. Gender differences in drug responses. Pharmacol Res 2007; 55: 81-95.
22. Franconi F, Campesi I. Pharmacogenomics, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics: interaction with biological differences between men and women. Br J Pharmacol 2014; 171: 580-594.
23. Gandhi M, Aweeka F, Greenblatt RM, Blaschke TF. Sex differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2004; 44: 499-523.
24. Marazziti D, Baroni S, Picchetti M, Piccinni A, Carlini M, Vatteroni E, Falaschi V, Lombardi A, Dell'Osso L. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of psychotropic drugs: effect of sex. CNS Spectr 2013; 18: 118-127.
25. Soldin OP, Mattison DR. Sex differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Clin Pharmacokinet 2009; 48: 143-157.
26. Kuehn BM. FDA warning: driving may be impaired the morning following sleeping pill use. JAMA 2013; 309: 645-646.
27. Verster JC, Roth T. Gender differences in highway driving performance after administration of sleep medication: a review of the literature. Traffic Inj Prev 2012; 13: 286-292.
28. Carroll ME, Anker JJ. Sex differences and ovarian hormones in animal models of drug dependence. Horm Behav 2010; 58: 44-56.
29. Ceylan-Isik AF, McBride SM, Ren J. Sex difference in alcoholism: who is at a greater risk for development of alcoholic complication?. Life Sci 2010; 87: 133-138.
30. Hernandez-Avila CA, Rounsaville BJ, Kranzler HR. Opioid-, cannabis-And alcohol-Dependent women show more rapid progression to substance abuse treatment. Drug Alcohol Depend 2004; 74: 265-272.
31. Sharrett-Field L, Butler TR, Reynolds AR, Berry JN, Prendergast MA. Sex differences in neuroadaptation to alcohol and withdrawal neurotoxicity. Pflugers Arch 2013; 465: 643-654.
32. Walitzer KS, Dearing RL. Gender differences in alcohol and substance use relapse. Clin Psychol Rev 2006; 26: 128-148.
33. Wilsnack RW, Wilsnack SC, Kristjanson AF, Vogeltanz-Holm ND, Gmel G. Gender and alcohol consumption: patterns from the multinational GENACIS project. Addiction 2009; 104: 1487-1500.
34. Witt ED. Puberty, hormones, and sex differences in alcohol abuse and dependence. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2007; 29: 81-95.
35. Hasin DS, Stinson FS, Ogburn E, Grant BF. Prevalence, correlates, disability, and comorbidity of DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence in the United States: results from the national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2007; 64: 830-842.
36. Riley EP, Infante MA, Warren KR. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: an overview. Neuropsychol Rev 2011; 21: 73-80.
37. Sokol RJ, Delaney-Black V, Nordstrom B. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. JAMA 2003; 290: 2996-2999.
38. Baraona E, Abittan CS, Dohmen K, Moretti M, Pozzato G, Chayes ZW, Schaefer C, Lieber CS. Gender differences in pharmacokinetics of alcohol. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2001; 25: 502-507.
39. Frezza M, di Padova C, Pozzato G, Terpin M, BAraona E, Lieber CS. High blood alcohol levels in women. The role of decreased gastric alcohol dehydrogenase activity and first-pass metabolism. N Engl J Med 1990; 322: 95-99.
40. Parlesak A, Billinger MH, Bode C, Bode JC. Gastric alcohol dehydrogenase activity in man: influence of gender, age, alcohol consumption and smoking in a Caucasian population. Alcohol Alcohol 2002; 37: 388-393.
41. Vivian JA, Green HL, Young JE, Majerksy LS, Thomas BW, Shively CA, Tobin JR, Nader MA, Grant KA. Induction and maintenance of ethanol self-Administration in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis): long-Term characterization of sex and individual differences. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2001; 25: 1087-1097.
42. Finn DA, Beckley EH, Kaufman KR, Ford MM. Manipulation of GABAergic steroids: sex differences in the effects on alcohol drinking-And withdrawal-related behaviors. Horm Behav 2010; 57: 12-22.
43. Loi B, Colombo G, Maccioni P, Carai MA, Franconi F, Gessa GL. High alcohol intake in female Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats. Alcohol 2014; 48: 345-351.
44. Fillmore MT, Weafer J. Alcohol impairment of behavior in men and women. Addiction 2004; 99: 1237-1246.
45. Webb B, Burnett PW, Walker DW. Sex differences in ethanol-induced hypnosis and hypothermia in young long-Evans rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2002; 26: 695-704.
46. Deshmukh A, Rosenbloom MJ, Sassoon S, O'Reilly A, Pfefferbaum A, Sullivan EV. Alcoholic men endorse more DSM-IV withdrawal symptoms than alcoholic women matched in drinking history. J Stud Alcohol 2003; 64: 375-379.
47. Leishman E, Kokesh KJ, Bradshaw HB. Lipids and addiction: how sex steroids, prostaglandins, and cannabinoids interact with drugs of abuse. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2013; 1282: 25-38.
48. Fattore L, Melis M, Fadda P, Fratta W. Sex differences in addictive disorders. Front Neuroendocrinol 2014; 35: 272-284.
49. Wiren KM, Hashimoto JG, Alele PE, Devaud LL, Price KL, Middaugh LD, Grant KA, Finn DA. Impact of sex: determination of alcohol neuroadaptation and reinforcement. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2006; 30: 233-242.
50. Lenz B, Muller CP, Stoessel C, Sperling W, Biermann T, Hillemacher T, Bleich S, Kornhuber J. Sex hormone activity in alcohol addiction: integrating organizational and activational effects. Prog Neurobiol 2012; 96: 136-163.
51. Boileau I, Assaad JM, Pihl RO, Benkelfat C, Leyton M, Diksic M, Tremblay RE, Dagher A. Alcohol promotes dopamine release in the human nucleus accumbens. Synapse 2003; 49: 226-231.
52. Balshem H, Helfand M, Schunemann HJ, Oxman AD, Kunz R, Brozek J, Vist GE, Falck-Ytter Y, Meerpohl J, Norris S, Guyatt GH. GRADE guidelines: 3. Rating the quality of evidence. J Clin Epidemiol 2011; 64: 401-406.
53. Guyatt GH, Oxman AD, Kunz R, Vist GE, Falck-Ytter Y, Schunemann HJ; GRADE Working Group: What is 'quality of evidence' and why is it important to clinicians?. BMJ 2008; 336: 995-998.
54. Langendam MW, Akl EA, Dahm P, Glasziou P, Guyatt G, Schunemann HJ. Assessing and presenting summaries of evidence in Cochrane Reviews. Syst Rev 2013; 2: 81.
55. Rosner S, Hackl-Herrwerth A, Leucht S, Vecchi S, Srisurapanont M, Soyka M. Opioid antagonists for alcohol dependence. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010; 12:CD001867.
56. Rosner S, Hackl-Herrwerth A, Leucht S, Lehert P, Vecchi S, Soyka M. Acamprosate for alcohol dependence. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010; 9:CD004332.
57. Mason BJ, Lehert P. Acamprosate for alcohol dependence: a sex-specific meta-Analysis based on individual patient data. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2012; 36: 497-508.
58. Leone MA, Vigna-Taglianti F, Avanzi G, Brambilla R, Faggiano F. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) for treatment of alcohol withdrawal and prevention of relapses. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010; 2:CD006266.
59. Jorgensen CH, Pedersen B, Tonnesen H. The efficacy of disulfiram for the treatment of alcohol use disorder. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2011; 35: 1749-1758.
60. Laaksonen E, Koski-Jannes A, Salaspuro M, Ahtinen H, Alho H. A randomized, multicentre, open-label, comparative trial of disulfiram, naltrexone and acamprosate in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Alcohol Alcohol 2008; 43: 53-61.
61. O'Malley SS, Sinha R, Grilo CM, Capone C, Farren CK, McKee SA, Rounsaville BJ, Wu R. Naltrexone and cognitive behavioral coping skills therapy for the treatment of alcohol drinking and eating disorder features in alcohol-Dependent women: a randomized controlled trial. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2007; 31: 625-634.
62. Pettinati HM, Kampman KM, Lynch KG, Suh JJ, Dackis CA, Oslin DW, O'Brien CP. Gender differences with high-Dose naltrexone in patients with co-occurring cocaine and alcohol dependence. J Subst Abuse Treat 2008; 34: 378-390.
63. Garbutt JC, Kranzler HR, O'Malley SS, Gastfriend DR, Pettinati HM, Silverman BL, Loewy JW, Ehrich EW; Vivitrex Study Group: Efficacy and tolerability of long-Acting injectable naltrexone for alcohol dependence: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2005; 293: 1617-1625.
64. Kiefer F, Jahn H, Wiedemann K. A neuroendocrinological hypothesis on gender effects of naltrexone in relapse prevention treatment. Pharmacopsychiatry 2005; 38: 184-186.
65. Anton RF, O'Malley SS, Ciraulo DA, Cisler RA, Couper D, Donovan DM, Gastfriend DR, Hosking JD, Johnson BA, LoCastro JS, Longabaugh R, Mason BJ, Mattson ME, Miller WR, Pettinati HM, Randall CL, Swift R, Weiss RD, Williams LD, Zweben A; COMBINE Study Research Group: Combined pharmacotherapies and behavioral interventions for alcohol dependence: the COMBINE study: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2006; 295: 2003-2017.
66. Mason BJ, Ritvo EC, Morgan RO, Salvato FR, Goldberg G, Welch B, Mantero-Atienza E. A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral nalmefene HCl for alcohol dependence. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 1994; 18: 1162-1167.
67. Mason BJ, Salvato FR, Williams LD, Ritvo EC, Cutler RB. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of oral nalmefene for alcohol dependence. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1999; 56: 719-724.
68. Anton RF, Pettinati H, Zweben A, Kranzler HR, Johnson B, Bohn MJ, McCaul ME, Anthenelli R, Salloum I, Galloway G, Garbutt J, Swift R, Gastfriend D, Kallio A, Karhuvaara S. A multi-site dose ranging study of nalmefene in the treatment of alcohol dependence. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2004; 24: 421-428.
69. Amato L, Minozzi S, Vecchi S, Davoli M. Benzodiazepines for alcohol withdrawal. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010; 3: CD005063.
70. Minozzi S, Amato L, Vecchi S, Davoli M. Anticonvulsants for alcohol withdrawal. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010; 3:CD005064.
71. Amato L, Minozzi S, Davoli M. Efficacy and safety of pharmacological interventions for the treatment of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011; 6:CD008537.
72. Addolorato G, Balducci G, Capristo E, Attilia ML, Taggi F, Gasbarrini G, Ceccanti M. Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome: a randomized comparative study versus benzodiazepine. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 1999; 23: 1596-1604.
73. Addolorato G, Leggio L, Abenavoli L, Agabio R, Caputo F, Capristo E, Colombo G, Gessa GL, Gasbarrini G. Baclofen in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome: a comparative study vs diazepam. Am J Med 2006; 119: 276.e13-E18.
74. Nava F, Premi S, Manzato E, Campagnola W, Lucchini A, Gessa GL. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate reduces both withdrawal syndrome and hypercortisolism in severe abstinent alcoholics: an open study vs. diazepam. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2007; 33: 379-392.
75. Greenfield SF, Pettinati HM, O'Malley S, Randall PK, Randall CL. Gender differences in alcohol treatment: an analysis of outcome from the COMBINE study. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2010; 34: 1803-1812.
76. Baros AM, Latham PK, Anton RF. Naltrexone and cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of alcohol dependence: do sex differences exist?. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2008; 32: 771-776.
77. Gual A, He Y, Torup L, van den Brink W, Mann K; ESENSE 2 Study Group: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, efficacy study of nalmefene, as-needed use, in patients with alcohol dependence. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2013; 23: 1432-1442.
78. Mann K, Bladstrom A, Torup L, Gual A, van den Brink W. Extending the treatment options in alcohol dependence: a randomized controlled study of as-needed nalmefene. Biol Psychiatry 2013; 73: 706-713.
79. Spence D. Bad medicine: nalmefene in alcohol misuse. BMJ 2014; 348:g1531.
80. Greenhalgh T, Howick J, Maskrey N; Evidence Based Medicine Renaissance Group: Evidence based medicine: a movement in crisis?. BMJ 2014; 348:g3725.
81. Nich C, McCance-Katz EF, Petrakis IL, Cubells JF, Rounsaville BJ, Carroll KM. Sex differences in cocaine-Dependent individuals' response to disulfiram treatment. Addict Behav 2004; 29: 1123-1128.
82. Hald J, Jacobsen E. A drug sensitizing the organism to ethyl alcohol. Lancet 1948; 2: 1001-1004.
83. Barth KS, Malcolm RJ. Disulfiram: an old therapeutic with new applications. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets 2010; 9: 5-12.
84. Rockson SG, Stone RA, Gunnells JC, Schanberg SM, Kirshner N, Robinson RR. Plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in oral contraceptive hypertension. Circulation 1975; 51: 916-923.
85. Serova L, Rivkin M, Nakashima A, Sabban EL. Estradiol stimulates gene expression of norepinephrine biosynthetic enzymes in rat locus coeruleus. Neuroendocrinology 2002; 75: 193-200.
86. Kosten TR, Wu G, Huang W, Harding MJ, Hamon SC, Lappalainen J, Nielsen DA. Pharmacogenetic randomized trial for cocaine abuse: disulfiram and dopamine b-Hydroxylase. Biol Psychiatry 2013; 73: 219-224.
87. Ochs HR, Greenblatt DJ, Divoll M, Abernethy DR, Feyerabend H, Dengler HJ. Diazepam kinetics in relation to age and sex. Pharmacology 1981; 23: 24-30.
88. Chetty M, Mattison D, Rostami-Hodjegan A. Sex differences in the clearance of CYP3A4 substrates: exploring possible reasons for the substrate dependency and lack of consensus. Curr Drug Metab 2012; 13: 778-786.
89. Greenfield SF, Back SE, Lawson K, Brady KT. Substance abuse in women. Psychiatr Clin North Am 2010; 33: 339-355.
90. Nolen-Hoeksema S, Hilt L. Possible contributors to the gender differences in alcohol use and problems. J Gen Psychol 2006; 133: 357-374.
91. Hommer D, Momenan R, Kaiser E, Rawlings R. Evidence for a gender-related effect of alcoholism on brain volumes. Am J Psychiatry 2001; 158: 198-204.
92. Kweder SL. Drugs and biologics in pregnancy and breastfeeding: FDA in the 21st century. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol 2008; 82: 605-609.
93. Cohen E, Feinn R, Arias A, Kranzler HR. Alcohol treatment utilization: findings from the national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions. Drug Alcohol Depend 2007; 86: 214-221.
94. Greenfield SF, Brooks AJ, Gordon SM, Green CA, Kropp F, McHugh RK, Lincoln M, Hien D, Miele GM. Substance abuse treatment entry, retention, and outcome in women: a review of the literature. Drug Alcohol Depend 2007; 86: 1-21.
95. Terplan M, McNamara EJ, Chisolm MS. Pregnant and non-pregnant women with substance use disorders: the gap between treatment need and receipt. J Addict Dis 2012; 31: 342-349.