Noribogaine reduces nicotine self-administration in rats.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) June 1, 2015 Qing Chang, Taleen Hanania, Deborah C Mash et al. 26 citations
Noribogaine, a drug that acts on opioid receptors, nicotinic receptors, and serotonin transporters, was tested for its ability to reduce nicotine self-administration in adult male rats. After training to self-administer nicotine intravenously, rats received oral doses of noribogaine (12.5, 25, or 50 mg/kg), vehicle, varenicline, or saline. Noribogaine dose-dependently decreased nicotine self-administration by up to 64% compared to saline-treated levels, matching the effectiveness of 1.7 mg/kg varenicline. At the highest dose, noribogaine reduced food pellet self-administration by only 23%, indicating greater specificity for nicotine. The findings suggest noribogaine may be a promising treatment for nicotine dependence.