In methamphetamine dependent rats, stress steroid mediated withdrawal anxiety reversible by flumazenil

SUNY Downstate Medical Center announced today that Sheryl Smith, PhD, professor of physiology and pharmacology, has published new findings demonstrating a reproducible pathology that may help shed light on anxiety and mood volatility in methamphetamine dependence. In her animal study, Dr. Smith demonstrates that neuroactive stress steroids can trigger identifiable changes to the brains of methamphetamine dependent rats in withdrawal. Interestingly, Dr. Smith notes, these changes appear to be reversible by an existing pharmacological agent - flumazenil...
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs Source Type: news