Efficacy of Self-Administered Intranasal Oxytocin on Alcohol Use and Craving After Detoxification in Patients With Alcohol Dependence. A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Melby K, Gråwe RW, Aamo TO, Skovlund E, Spigset O

Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire)1 Aug 2021Cited by 22 (Europe PMC)

PMID33352584PMCIDPMC8406061DOI10.1093/alcalc/agaa133PepBankPUB-33352584

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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: CC BY-NC-ND. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study6

6 results from studies that gave the peptide. 6 results from people.

01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In patients with alcohol dependence after detoxification, oxytocin did not change total daily alcohol intake versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn people with alcohol dependence after detox, oxytocin did not change daily alcohol intake compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeDaily alcohol intake in total
Study
n = 38
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
8 IU up to thrice daily · intranasal · 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
There were no significant differences between the oxytocin group and the placebo group in daily alcohol intake in total (mean 1.3 ± 2.9 vs. 2.0 ± 5.0 units; P = 0.63)
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 38 patients fulfilling the criteria for ICD-10 diagnosis of alcohol dependence received either 8 IU oxytocin or placebo at their own discretion up to thrice daily for 4 weeks, after completing detoxification.
Report a problemFND-3335258401
02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In patients with alcohol dependence after detoxification, oxytocin did not change alcohol intake on drinking days versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn people with alcohol dependence after detox, oxytocin did not change alcohol intake on drinking days compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeAlcohol intake on drinking days
Study
n = 38
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
8 IU up to thrice daily · intranasal · 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
alcohol intake on drinking days, oxytocin
8.4 units
alcohol intake on drinking days, placebo
7.7 units
Source sentences
Summary
or on drinking days (mean 8.4 ± 2.7 vs. 7.7 ± 6.0 units; P = 0.76)
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 38 patients fulfilling the criteria for ICD-10 diagnosis of alcohol dependence received either 8 IU oxytocin or placebo at their own discretion up to thrice daily for 4 weeks, after completing detoxification.
Report a problemFND-3335258402
03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In patients with alcohol dependence after detoxification, oxytocin did not change the number of days until relapse versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn people with alcohol dependence after detox, oxytocin did not change the time to relapse compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeDays until relapse
Study
n = 38
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
8 IU up to thrice daily · intranasal · 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
in the number of days until relapse (P = 0.91)
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 38 patients fulfilling the criteria for ICD-10 diagnosis of alcohol dependence received either 8 IU oxytocin or placebo at their own discretion up to thrice daily for 4 weeks, after completing detoxification.
Report a problemFND-3335258403
04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In patients with alcohol dependence after detoxification, the proportion relapsing did not differ between oxytocin and placebo.
In plain wordsIn people with alcohol dependence after detox, the share who relapsed was similar with oxytocin and with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeProportion of subjects relapsing
Study
n = 38
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
8 IU up to thrice daily · intranasal · 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
proportion relapsing, oxytocin
37.5%
proportion relapsing, placebo
41.2%
Source sentences
Summary
or in the proportion of subjects relapsing (37.5 vs. 41.2%; P = 0.84)
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 38 patients fulfilling the criteria for ICD-10 diagnosis of alcohol dependence received either 8 IU oxytocin or placebo at their own discretion up to thrice daily for 4 weeks, after completing detoxification.
Report a problemFND-3335258404
05HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In patients with alcohol dependence after detoxification, oxytocin did not significantly change other outcomes (craving, sleep, mental distress) versus placebo, apart from self-reported nervousness.
In plain wordsIn people with alcohol dependence after detox, oxytocin did not change craving, sleep or distress compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeCraving, sleep and mental distress (other secondary outcomes)
Study
n = 38
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
8 IU up to thrice daily · intranasal · 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Neither were there any statistically significant differences in any other outcomes
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Secondary outcomes were self-reported symptoms of craving, sleep and mental distress.
Summary · context
In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 38 patients fulfilling the criteria for ICD-10 diagnosis of alcohol dependence received either 8 IU oxytocin or placebo at their own discretion up to thrice daily for 4 weeks, after completing detoxification.
Report a problemFND-3335258405
06HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In patients with alcohol dependence after detoxification, self-reported nervousness decreased more with oxytocin than with placebo.
In plain wordsIn people with alcohol dependence after detox, nervousness fell more with oxytocin than with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseSelf-reported nervousness
Study
n = 38
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
8 IU up to thrice daily · intranasal · 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
P value
0.022
nervousness decrease
Source sentences
Summary
except a larger decrease in self-reported nervousness in the oxytocin group (P = 0.022).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Secondary outcomes were self-reported symptoms of craving, sleep and mental distress.
Summary · context
In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 38 patients fulfilling the criteria for ICD-10 diagnosis of alcohol dependence received either 8 IU oxytocin or placebo at their own discretion up to thrice daily for 4 weeks, after completing detoxification.
Report a problemFND-3335258406

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 00:50 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:48 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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