Olanzapine reduces urge to drink after drinking cues and a priming dose ofalcohol

Rationale: Haloperidol, a D-2 antagonist, has been shown to moderate the ef fects of alcohol consumption on craving. Objective: The present study was d esigned to determine whether a single 5-mg dose of olanzapine (a D-2/5-HT2 antagonist) would influence responses to alcohol cues or an alcohol challen ge. It was hypothesized that olanzapine would attenuate cue-elicited urge t o drink, attenuate the effects of alcohol consumption on urge to drink, and reduce the rewarding effects of alcohol. Methods: To test these hypotheses , 26 heavy social drinkers were randomized to receive either 5 mg olanzapin e or placebo approximately 8 h before each of two experimental sessions. Pa rticipants consumed a moderate dose of alcohol in one experimental session and a non-alcohol control beverage in another session. Results: Results ind icated that mere exposure to alcohol cues and consumption of alcohol increa sed urge to drink and that olanzapine attenuated these effects. Results als o indicated that alcohol increased subjective stimulation and high while ol anzapine did not moderate these effects. Conclusions: These results suggest that olanzapine did not influence the rewarding effects of alcohol but did attenuate the effects of alcohol cues and an alcohol challenge on urge to drink.