Melanotan-II and Naltrexone Synergistically Reduce Binge Drinking in Mice.
Evidence that Melanocortin Receptor Agonist Melanotan-II Synergistically Augments the Ability of Naltrexone to Blunt Binge-Like Ethanol Intake in Male C57BL/6J Mice.
Background
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a pervasive global health crisis, with binge drinking representing a particularly harmful pattern of consumption. While Naltrexone, an opioid receptor antagonist, is an FDA-approved medication for AUD, its effectiveness varies, and many patients struggle with relapse. There is a critical need to identify novel pharmacological strategies that can augment Naltrexone's efficacy, specifically targeting the reduction of binge-like ethanol intake.