IL-6 Receptor Antagonist Reduces Alcohol Consumption in Preclinical Model

An FDA-approved rheumatoid arthritis drug that blocks IL-6 receptors significantly reduced excessive alcohol consumption in alcohol-dependent female mice by suppressing neuroinflammation in the central amygdala. This mechanism aligns with elevated IL-6 expression observed in postmortem brain tissue from individuals with alcohol use disorder, suggesting a potential therapeutic target.