Early intervention of intravenous KB220IV--neuroadaptagen amino-acid therapy (NAAT) improves behavioral outcomes in a residential addiction treatment program: a pilot study

J Psychoactive Drugs. 2012 Nov-Dec;44(5):398-409. doi: 10.1080/02791072.2012.737727.

Abstract

Substance use disorders (SUD) are inheritable and the culprit is hypodopaminergic function regulated by reward genes. We evaluated a natural dopaminergic agonist; KB220 intravenous (IV) and oral variants, to improve dopaminergic function in SUD. Our pilot experiment found a significant reduction of chronic symptoms, measured by the Chronic Abstinence Symptom Severity (CASS) Scale. The combined group (IV and oral) did significantly better than the oral-only group over the first week and 30-day follow-up period. Next, the combination was given to 129 subjects and three factors; Emotion, Somatic, and Impaired Cognition, with eigenvalues greater than one were extracted for baseline CASS-Revised (CASS-R) variables. Paired sample t-tests for pre and post-treatment scales showed significant declines (p = .00001) from pre- to post-treatment: t = 19.1 for Emotion, t = 16.1 for Somatic, and t = 14.9 for Impaired Cognition. In a two-year follow-up of 23 subjects who underwent KB220IV therapy (at least five IV treatments over seven days) plus orals for 30+ days: 21 (91%) were sober at six months, 19 (82%) having no relapse; 19 (82%) were sober at one year, 18 (78%) having no relapse; and 21 (91%) were sober two-years post-treatment, 16(70%) having no relapse. We await additional research and advise caution in interpreting these encouraging results.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Amino Acids / administration & dosage
  • Amino Acids / therapeutic use*
  • Behavior / drug effects*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cognition / drug effects
  • Dopamine Agonists / administration & dosage
  • Dopamine Agonists / therapeutic use*
  • Emotions / drug effects
  • Emotions / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Pilot Projects
  • Recurrence
  • Reward
  • Substance Abuse Treatment Centers
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / psychology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / rehabilitation*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Dopamine Agonists