Disrupting the brain's orexin system could prevent craving among alcoholics, according to new research from Australia's Howard Florey Institute.

The BBC reported Dec. 25 that researchers said that orexin blockers could prevent relapse; cells that produce orexin also appear to be involved in eating, and orexin-blocking drugs might also be useful in treating eating disorders.

Researchers led by Andrew Lawrence put rats who had been addicted to alcohol through a detoxification regimen, then gave an orexin-blocking drug to some. The rats that were given the orexin drugs showed no interest in drinking when exposed to an environment where they previously had been given alcohol.

"Orexin reinforces the euphoria felt when drinking alcohol, so if a drug can be developed to block the orexin system in humans, we should be able to stop an alcoholic's craving for alcohol, as well as preventing relapse once the alcoholic has recovered," said Lawrence. "Our research shows that alcohol addiction and eating disorders set off common triggers in the brain, so further investigations may uncover drug targets in the orexin system to treat both conditions."

Researchers cautioned that a safe orexin-blocking drug still needs to be developed and tested, and that more research also is needed to determine whether the drug could prevent relapse among humans.

The study was published in the British Journal of Pharmacology.