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Evidence for alcohol anti-craving properties of memantine

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Abstract

Rats consuming alcohol voluntarily for a long time show increased alcohol consumption after a phase of alcohol deprivation and this might reflect increased craving for alcohol. Administration of memantine (1-amino-3,5-dimethyl-adamantane), a clinically used uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, resulted in a significant reduction of the alcohol deprivation effect without any sedative, dysphoric or stimulant side-effects. The dose of memantine used (4.8 mg/day) resulted in serum levels close to the therapeutic range in humans. These results indicate that memantine may have therapeutic potential as an anti-craving drug for alcohol.

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