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Existing medications for alcohol use disorder have limited benefits and, except for acamprosate, focus on decreasing the craving for or experience of positive euphoric effects. However, avoidance of negative emotional states also can initiate and drive alcohol abuse and even grow to dominate motivation as use progresses and negative withdrawal effects increase. This phase 2 trial examined the effectiveness of a vasopressin receptor 1B antagonist, which has anxiolytic activity and decreases alcohol intake in animal models. Some researchers in this federally funded study are or once were employees of the manufacturer.
The 150 alcohol-dependent participants (65% men; mean percentage of baseline heavy drinking days, 79%) were randomized to 12 we…