REDUCTION OF ETHANOL INTAKE BY AEROSOL INHALATION OF A BETA-ADRENERGIC AGONIST - NEW ROUTE - NEW TREATMENT APPROACH

The quick, convenient, unobtrusive administration of a low dose of a d rug that effectively reduces alcohol intake could be a useful adjunct to any program that aims to treat alcohol abuse. This study evaluates the ability of isoproterenol, a drug that has previously been shown to reduce ethanol intake, to exercise this action when administered as a metered aerosol mist. Rats were trained to self-administer ethanol us ing a procedure that limits access to a brief daily availability perio d. Once intake stabilized, animals were given isoproterenol by metered aerosol inhalation just before ethanol availability. A custom-designe d helmet attached to a commercially available mistometer was used to d eliver the drug. Isoproterenol produced a dose-dependent reduction in ethanol intake and an increase in water intake replicating the effects of parenterally administered isoproterenol on ethanol and water consu mption. These findings demonstrate that the administration of isoprote renol in inhaled aerosol form can effectively reduce voluntary ethanol consumption in rats. The administration of pharmacologically active a ntialcohol agents via the inhalation route may be useful in the sympto matic treatment of alcohol abuse in humans.