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Methamphetamine: Mechanism of Action and Chinese Herbal Medicine Treatment for Its Addiction

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Abstract

With the proliferation of synthetic drugs, research on the mechanism of action of addictive drugs and treatment methods is of great significance. Among them, methamphetamine (METH) is the most representative amphetamine synthetic drug, and the treatment of METH addiction has become an urgent medical and social problem. In recent years, the therapeutic effects of Chinese herbal medicines on METH addiction have gained widespread attention because of their non-addictiveness, multiple targets, low side effects, low cost, and other characteristics. Previous studies have identified a variety of Chinese herbal medicines with effects on METH addiction. Based on the research on METH in recent years, this article summarizes the mechanism of action of METH as the starting point and briefly reviews the Chinese herbal medicine-based treatment of METH.

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Acknowledgement

Special thanks to Prof. SHEN Hong-ping from the Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University for her guidance of the thesis and her project for funding the thesis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, 646000, China

    Rui Zeng, Xin-yue Zhang, Meng-lin Yao & Qin Sun

  2. North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan Province, 637000, China

    Hong-yu Pu

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  1. Rui Zeng
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  2. Hong-yu Pu
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  3. Xin-yue Zhang
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  4. Meng-lin Yao
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  5. Qin Sun
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Contributions

Zeng R and Sun Q conceived the idea. Zeng R, Pu HY, and Sun Q developed the idea. Zeng R wrote the manuscript in consultation with Sun Q. Shen HP, Zhang XY and Yao ML provided assistance in subsequent modifications. All authors provided feedback and helped shape the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Qin Sun.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Supported by Sichuan Provincial Science and Technology Department (No. 2022YFS0635), and Luzhou Science and Technology Bureau (No. 2021LZXNYD-Z09)

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Zeng, R., Pu, Hy., Zhang, Xy. et al. Methamphetamine: Mechanism of Action and Chinese Herbal Medicine Treatment for Its Addiction. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 29, 665–672 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-023-3635-y

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