Polymorphisms of the DRD2 , ANKK1 , DAT1 , DBH , and DRD4 genes have been found to moderate the effects of pharmacotherapy  of alcohol , opioid , and cocaine use disorders .
The integration of genetic information with clinical data will inform health professionals of the most efficacious pharmacotherapeutic intervention for substance use disorders .
Substance use disorders have significant personal , familial , and societal consequences .
Despite the serious consequences of substance use , only a few therapies are effective in treating substance use disorders , thus highlighting a need for improved treatment practice s. Substance use treatment response depends on multiple factors such as genetic , biological , and social factors .
It is essential that each component is represented in treatment plans .
The dopaminergic system plays a critical role in the pharmacotherapy for addictions , and an underst and ing of the role of variation of genes involved in this system is essential for its success .
Olanzapine Reduces Craving for Alcohol: A DRD4 VNTR Polymorphism by Pharmacotherapy Interaction
Separate investigations have suggested that olanzapine , a D4 antagonist , decreases craving after a priming dose of alcohol and that the DRD4 variable number of t and em repeats ( VNTR ) polymorphism influences the expression of craving after a priming dose of alcohol . The present study tested the hypothesis that olanzapine may be differentially effective at reducing cue-elicited craving based on individual differences in DRD4 VNTR in a sample of heavy social drinkers . Participants were r and omly assigned to receive olanzapine ( 5 mg ) or a control medication ( cyproheptadine , 4 mg ) prior to consuming three alcoholic drinks . Participants completed subjective measures of craving and euphoria after each drink . Participants who were homozygous or heterozygous for the 7 ( or longer ) repeat allele of the DRD4 VNTR were classified as DRD4 L , while the other participants were classified as DRD4 S. The findings indicated that olanzapine reduces craving for alcohol at baseline for both DRD4 S and DRD4 L individuals , but only reduces craving after exposure to alcohol cues and after a priming dose of alcohol for DRD4 L individuals
Polymorphisms of the DRD2 , ANKK1 , DAT1 , DBH , and DRD4 genes have been found to moderate the effects of pharmacotherapy  of alcohol , opioid , and cocaine use disorders .
The integration of genetic information with clinical data will inform health professionals of the most efficacious pharmacotherapeutic intervention for substance use disorders .
Substance use disorders have significant personal , familial , and societal consequences .
Despite the serious consequences of substance use , only a few therapies are effective in treating substance use disorders , thus highlighting a need for improved treatment practice s. Substance use treatment response depends on multiple factors such as genetic , biological , and social factors .
It is essential that each component is represented in treatment plans .
The dopaminergic system plays a critical role in the pharmacotherapy for addictions , and an underst and ing of the role of variation of genes involved in this system is essential for its success .