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New Evidence On Addiction To Medicines: Diazepam Has Effect On Nerve Cells In The Brain Reward System

Date:
August 29, 2008
Source:
Academy of Finland
Summary:
Addictions to medicines and drugs are thought to develop over a relatively long period of time. The process involves both structural and functional changes in brain nerve cells that are still poorly understood. However, a single drug or alcohol dose is sufficient to generate an initial stage of addiction.
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Addictions to medicines and drugs are thought to develop over a relatively long period of time. The process involves both structural and functional changes in brain nerve cells that are still poorly understood. However, a single drug or alcohol dose is sufficient to generate an initial stage of addiction.

Recent research conducted under the umbrella of the Academy of Finland Research Programme on Neuroscience (NEURO) has discovered the same phenomenon in the dosage of benzodiazepine diazepam.

Benzodiazepines are highly effective medicines that are widely used in the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, pains, panic attacks and other symptoms. However, over time patients may develop an increased tolerance towards these medicines and an unhealthy dependence.

"Previously, addiction to benzodiazepines has been explained by reference to negative rather than positive reinforcement. In other words, the thinking has been that the reason people continue to use the medicine is that it helps to alleviate their distressing withdrawal symptoms and general discomfort, rather than because it provides a sense of reward," says Professor Esa Korpi, who has been in charge of the research project at the University of Helsinki.

However, according to the latest research it seems that diazepam causes a similar change in the brain's reward-inducing dopamine cells as a dose of alcohol, morphine, amphetamine or cocaine. Furthermore, neural message transmission in the dopamine cells is reinforced for up to 72 hours after ingestion of diazepam. "Our studies have shown that diazepam also affects the dopamine system, which adds a new positive reinforcement mechanism of reward learning to the theory of benzodiazepine addiction," Korpi explains.


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Materials provided by Academy of Finland. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Heikkinen et al. Long-lasting Modulation of Glutamatergic Transmission in VTA Dopamine Neurons after a Single Dose of Benzodiazepine Agonists. Neuropsychopharmacology, 2008; DOI: 10.1038/npp.2008.89

Cite This Page:

Academy of Finland. "New Evidence On Addiction To Medicines: Diazepam Has Effect On Nerve Cells In The Brain Reward System." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 29 August 2008. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080827102742.htm>.
Academy of Finland. (2008, August 29). New Evidence On Addiction To Medicines: Diazepam Has Effect On Nerve Cells In The Brain Reward System. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 23, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080827102742.htm
Academy of Finland. "New Evidence On Addiction To Medicines: Diazepam Has Effect On Nerve Cells In The Brain Reward System." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080827102742.htm (accessed December 23, 2024).

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