According to a study published by JCI Insight on Tuesday, a common anti-inflammatory drug could provide new hope for millions of global struggling and associated pain sensitivity.
Scientists at Scripps Research have found that Apremilast, a drug that has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, suggests hopeful responses to excessive alcohol consumption and increased pain sensitivity, which is often accompanied by alcohol use disorders (AUD).
The study found that Apremilast reduces alcohol consumption in different genetic strains regardless of biological sex. Even more surprisingly, it also reduces pain sensitivity during the active drinking period and throughout moderation, from 24 hours to four weeks after alcohol removal.
“Our findings highlight the therapeutic value of Apremilast in reducing concurrent drinking and mechanical abnormalities in prolonged abstinence, a key component of harmful drinking and AUD psychopathology.”
According to data from the World Health Organization cited in the study, AUD affects about 400 million people over the age of 15 worldwide. Many people with alcohol addiction experience mechanical anomalies (even if they feel pain in a light touch), which can be continued during abstinence and driving to continue drinking.
The team tested genetic susceptibility to alcohol-drinking and standard laboratory rats in both breeding rats. The effects of the drug vary by gender and genetic background, and some male rats respond differently to the properties of treating pain.
Notably, scientists observed that Apresia increased inhibitory brain signaling in the central amygdala, an area associated with addiction and pain management, but only in one rat strain. This suggests that the effectiveness of the drug may depend in part on genetic factors or personal vulnerability.
The study is based on previous studies showing that Apremilast reduces alcohol consumption in mice and humans. As a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor, the drug blocks enzymes involved in inflammation, which can explain its dual effects on alcohol-drinking behavior and pain sensitivity.
“The reduction patterns between men and women and the differences between strains differ,” noted Bryan Cruz, a postdoctoral researcher at Scripps Research and the study’s first author. “There are differences in the patterns of reduction between men and women and the differences between strains,” highlighting the importance of considering biological sexual behavior in future surveys.
In both male rat strains, alcohol exposure increased expression of the PDE4 gene in the brain, providing further evidence of a link between inflammation, pain and compulsive drinking.
Although the results are promising, clinical studies are still needed to determine the efficacy of drugs in treating concurrent AUD and pain in humans. The team plans to explore whether Apremilast may also help address the anxiety and emotional distress that usually occurs during alcohol withdrawal.
“For more than a decade, there has been a good withdrawal-induced anxiety that has been the main driver of relapse,” Roberto noted. “So, it is crucial to address other key components of the addiction cycle, as many people use alcohol to cope not only with physical pain, but also with emotional distress.”
This dual-movement approach may change the treatment options for millions of struggles about alcohol addiction and its painful physical consequences.
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