Lack of Psychotomimetic or Impairing Effects on Psychomotor Performance of Acamprosate

Abstract

Cognitive impairments during psychotic episodes are assumed to be caused not only by one single putative classical neurotransmitter dysfunction but also to be due to an impaired equilibrium of the interaction between different neurobiological generators of cognitive processes. Here, the perceptual abnormalities induced by psychotogenic agents play a major role as tools for understanding model psychoses. The recently discovered cannabinoid receptor system with its endogenous ligand anandamide can be regarded as an extremely relevant regulation system, a dysfunctionality of which may explain at least one subtype of endogenous psychoses. The present paper discusses the possible associations between the endogenous anandamide/cannabinoid system and schizophrenic psychoses. Neuropsychological experiments with the 3-D inversion paradigm were performed in healthy volunteers intoxicated with delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC). The 3-D inversion paradigm represents a visual illusion of binocular depth perception. Such an inversion occurs in many cases, especially when objects with a higher degree of familiarity (e.g. photographs of faces) are displayed. It is assumed that cognitive factors override the binocular disparity cues of stereopsis. We tested the hypothesis that, during psychotic and related prepsychotic states, the human CNS is unable to correct implausible perceptual hypotheses. Our study provides evidence of strong similarities between data acquired from patients, suffering from productive schizophrenic psychoses and delta9-THC-intoxicated healthy volunteers, as concerns disturbances in the internal regulation of perceptual processes.

Effects of Acamprosate on Sleep During Alcohol Withdrawal: A Double‐Blind Placebo‐Controlled Polysomnographic Study in Alcohol‐Dependent Subjects

“…Studies in healthy subjects have shown that acamprosate is devoid of any sedative effects per se (Schneider et al, 1998); thus, the present results bring support to our working hypothesis that acamprosate could improve postwithdrawal sleep disturbances by lowering the withdrawal-associated neural hyperexcitability and, therefore, CNS hyperarousal. In accordance with this, daytime assessments by electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography also indicate that acamprosate attenuates electrophysiological signs of CNS hyperexcitability during alcohol withdrawal (Boeijinga et al, 2004).…”

Acamprosate attenuates cocaine- and cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior in rats

“…Because of a broad mechanism of action, further investigation with acamprosate may uncover multiple receptor systems that contribute to relapse. Regardless of its many potential neurochemical targets, acamprosate lacks abuse potential and presents a mild side effect profile in humans (Grant and Woolverton 1989;Le Magnen et al 1987;Mcgeehan and Olive 2003;Naassila et al 1998;Nalpas et al 1990;Schneider et al 1998;Spanagel et al 1996). While further preclinical studies are needed to determine if acamprosate attenuates cocaine relapse induced by other stimuli such as stress, our data suggest that acamprosate may be a novel pharmacological therapeutic particularly useful in reducing the incidence of relapse in cocaine addiction.…”

Kudzu Root Extract Does Not Perturb the Sleep/Wake Cycle of Moderate Drinkers

“…13 Acamprosate lessens sleep disturbances in a dependent population, 14 even while it has no effect on sleep in healthy participants. 15 Results with gabapentin are mixed, with some reporting an improvement in disturbed sleep, 13 and others reporting no effect on sleep. 16 Normalization of sleep during alcohol withdrawal is important because these withdrawal-associated sleep disturbances may precipitate or contribute to relapse.…”

“…11,13,17,18 Most medications for treating alcohol dependence also have an effect on sleep. [12][13][14][15] Thus, it is important to determine any effect of a candidate medication for alcohol dependence, such as kudzu root extract, on sleep quality and quantity. If a precipitating factor of relapse is the disturbed sleep associated with alcohol withdrawal and a medication used to treat alcohol withdrawal further disrupts sleep, then patients could experience a ''double whammy'' effect from the medication, further challenging their attempt to quit drinking.…”