Can a painkiller change how the brain responds to alcohol? scientists investigate

This early-stage study looks at whether a single dose of diclofenac, a common pain reliever, can change certain brain chemicals in people with alcohol use disorder. The study involves 12 adults who will receive either diclofenac or a placebo in a random, double-blind manner. The main goal is to see if diclofenac increases a substance called kynurenic acid in the blood, which would show it affects a specific enzyme. This is a proof-of-concept study, meaning it aims to understand how the drug works in the body, not to treat alcohol use disorder directly.