Drugs/Therapy

Scientist Reports: Hangover Cure Could be Available Soon

By Cheri Cheng | Update Date: Nov 13, 2013 01:52 PM EST

Even though alcohol might be consumed in social settings and in moderate amounts, the aftermath might not always be pleasant. The morning after having a few drinks can be quite miserable since alcohol can take a toll on people's physical and mental health. Hangovers, however, could be a thing of the past according to a scientist. David Nutt, a professor of neuropsychopharmacology and director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit at Imperial College in London, believes that he can remove the toxic health effect that alcohol has on the liver, heart and brain, which would also eliminate hangovers.

Nutt stated that he has found five compounds that could become substitutes for alcohol. These compounds would have similar effects that alcohol has on the brain but without the health hazards. Nutt, who used to be chair of a U.K. advisory committee on the misuse of drugs, looked for compounds that would target the same systems that alcohol affects. When people consume alcohol, the substance affects the neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). Ideally, these compounds should have the same effect on GABA.

"After exploring one possible compound I was quite relaxed and sleepily inebriated for an hour or so, then within minutes of taking the antidote I was up giving a lecture with no impairment whatsoever," Nutt explained, reported by FOX News. "In theory we can make an alcohol surrogate that makes people feel relaxed and sociable and remove the unwanted effects, such as aggression and addictiveness."

Nutt plans on making this alcohol substitute drink in the form of a cocktail. He currently is seeking funding for testing as well as marketing. In addition, even though he has been sampling the compounds himself, he will need subjects to sample the compounds "to test them to see if people find the effects as pleasurable as alcohol."

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