Researchers find anti-gout drug that lessens pain of opioid withdrawal in mice
CALGARY — A study identifying one of the underlying causes of opioid withdrawal has singled out an anti-gout drug as possibly easing the suffering associated with overcoming addiction.
Scientists at the University of Calgary published research in the journal Nature Medicine on Monday showing that the medication probenecid is effective at reducing the severity of withdrawal symptoms in mice that are addicted to morphine or fentanyl.
Lead researcher Tuan Trang at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the university’s school of veterinary medicine said the findings could eventually help people overcome an addiction to opioids by alleviating the “adverse and debilitating” experience of withdrawal.
While the “million-dollar question” remains how well the findings will translate from mice to humans, Trang said the study enhances researchers’ understanding of the mechanism of withdrawal and establishes a good starting point to identify candidate drugs to treat the condition in people.