Effect of N-acetylcysteine on neural alcohol cue reactivity and craving in adolescents who drink heavily: A preliminary randomized clinical trial.
Alcohol Clin Exp Res (Hoboken)
; 2024 Jul 03.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38960894
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Alcohol craving is related to problematic alcohol use; therefore, pharmacotherapies that modulate alcohol craving are of interest. N-acetylcysteine, an over-the-counter antioxidant, is a candidate pharmacotherapy for adolescent alcohol use with the potential to impact craving. Cue-reactivity paradigms using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can identify neural regions implicated in craving and serve as a screening tool for novel pharmacotherapy options.METHODS:
This preliminary study examined the effect of N-acetylcysteine on neural reactivity to alcohol cues and subjective craving among 31 non-treatment-seeking adolescents (17.6-19.9 years old, 55% female) who use alcohol heavily. In a randomized cross-over design, participants completed three fMRI sessions baseline and after a 10-day course of N-acetylcysteine (1200 mg twice daily) and matched placebo. The primary outcome was neural response to alcohol versus non-alcohol beverage cues after N-acetylcysteine versus placebo, with a secondary outcome of self-reported subjective craving.RESULTS:
In the full sample (n = 31), there was no effect of N-acetylcysteine versus placebo on neural alcohol reactivity (ps ≥ 0.49; η p 2 $$ {\upeta_{\mathrm{p}}}^2 $$ s = 0.00-0.07) or self-reported acute alcohol craving (p = 0.18, η p 2 $$ {\upeta_{\mathrm{p}}}^2 $$ = 0.06). However, N-acetylcysteine did reduce self-reported generalized alcohol craving (p = 0.03, η p 2 $$ {\upeta_{\mathrm{p}}}^2 $$ = 0.15). In a subsample of youth who met criteria for past-year alcohol use disorder (n = 19), results remained unchanged.CONCLUSIONS:
N-acetylcysteine may not alter neural reactivity to alcohol cues or acute craving; however, it may reduce general subjective alcohol craving among adolescents who consume alcohol heavily.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
Alcohol Clin Exp Res (Hoboken)
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States