Potential Benefits of N-Acetylcysteine in Preventing Pregabalin-Induced Seeking-Like Behavior

Overview

Journal Healthcare (Basel)

Specialty Health Services

Date 2021 Apr 3

PMID 33805329

Citations 1

Authors

Atiah H Almalki

Hashem O Alsaab

Walaa F Alsanie

Ahmed Gaber

Turki Alkhalifa

Ahmad AlMalki

Omar Alzahrani

Ana Maria Gregio Hardy

Qasim Alhadidi

Zahoor A Shah

Yusuf S Althobaiti

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Substance-use disorder is globally prevalent and responsible for numerous social and medical problems. Pregabalin (Lyrica), typically used to treat diabetic neuropathy, has recently emerged as a drug of abuse. Drug abuse is associated with several neuronal changes, including the downregulation of glutamate transporters such as glutamate transporter 1 and cystine/glutamate antiporter. We investigated the effects of N-acetylcysteine, a glutamate transporter 1 and xCT upregulator, on pregabalin addiction using a conditioned place preference paradigm. Pregabalin (60 mg/kg) was found to induce conditioned place preference when compared to a vehicle. A 100 mg/kg dose of N-acetylcysteine was found to block pregabalin-seeking behaviors. These results support previous findings showing that glutamate transporters play an important role in pregabalin-induced seeking behaviors. N-acetylcysteine may represent a beneficial agent in preventing the abuse potential of pregabalin.

Citing Articles

Oral self-administration of pregabalin in a mouse model and the resulting drug addiction features.

Althobaiti Y Saudi Pharm J. 2024; 32(2):101935.

PMID: 38292403 PMC: 10825552. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2023.101935.

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