Another area in which action of EtOH on GABA function has been implicated is withdrawal from chronic EtOH. Withdrawal results in an increased sensitivity to induction of seizures (Allan and Harris 1987; Frye et al. 1983). Several functional and behavioral studies on benzodiazepines and other drugs with GABA mimetic action reduced such withdrawal-related hyper-excitability (Breese et al. 2006; McCown et al. 1985; Roberto et al. 2008; Ticku and Burch 1980). Collectively, these results offer strong support for the hypothesis that at least a part of the action of EtOH was mediated by effects on neural functions associated with GABA transmission and that these effects play an important role in the maintenance of addictive drinking behavior.
