Introduction:Topiramate (TOP) and anticonvulsants in general are considered safe and effective drugs for the treatment of alcohol dependence, even though TOP-induced adverse events are quite common, especially for high initial doses or if titration to 300 mg/d is too rapid. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability profile of low-dose TOP for relapse prevention. METHODS: After detoxification, 52 patients were randomized into 2 groups as follows: 26 patients received 100 mg of TOP (oral, twice daily), titrated over 2 weeks, and 26 patients received placebo (PLA). Both groups underwent rehabilitation twice a week. RESULTS: After 6 weeks of treatment, compared with the PLA group, patients receiving TOP showed the following: (1) fewer drinking days (P < 0.05); (2) less daily alcohol consumption (P < 0.05); (3) more days of treatment (P < 0.05); (4) reduced levels of craving (Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale) and withdrawal symptoms (Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-Revised); and (5) improvement of anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive symptom severity (Symptom Check List 90 Revised). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the small sample size and the short follow-up period, the present PLA-controlled study demonstrated the potential usefulness of TOP, even when administered at a dosage of 100 mg/d, for the treatment of detoxified alcohol-dependent subjects, confirming results from previous studies testing higher doses of TOP.

Martinotti, G., Di Nicola, M., De Vita, O., Hatzigiakoumis, D. S., Guglielmo, R., Santucci, B., Aliotta, F., Romanelli, R., Verrastro, V., Petruccelli, F., Di Giannantonio, M., Janiri, L., Low-dose topiramate in alcohol dependence: a single-blind, placebo-controlled study, <<JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY>>, 2014; 34 (6): 709-715. [doi:10.1097/JCP.0000000000000228] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/63436]

Low-dose topiramate in alcohol dependence: a single-blind, placebo-controlled study

Martinotti, Giovanni;Di Nicola, Marco;De Vita, Ofelia;Hatzigiakoumis, Daniele Stavros;Guglielmo, Riccardo;Di Giannantonio, Massimo;Janiri, Luigi
2014

Abstract

Introduction:Topiramate (TOP) and anticonvulsants in general are considered safe and effective drugs for the treatment of alcohol dependence, even though TOP-induced adverse events are quite common, especially for high initial doses or if titration to 300 mg/d is too rapid. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability profile of low-dose TOP for relapse prevention. METHODS: After detoxification, 52 patients were randomized into 2 groups as follows: 26 patients received 100 mg of TOP (oral, twice daily), titrated over 2 weeks, and 26 patients received placebo (PLA). Both groups underwent rehabilitation twice a week. RESULTS: After 6 weeks of treatment, compared with the PLA group, patients receiving TOP showed the following: (1) fewer drinking days (P < 0.05); (2) less daily alcohol consumption (P < 0.05); (3) more days of treatment (P < 0.05); (4) reduced levels of craving (Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale) and withdrawal symptoms (Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-Revised); and (5) improvement of anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive symptom severity (Symptom Check List 90 Revised). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the small sample size and the short follow-up period, the present PLA-controlled study demonstrated the potential usefulness of TOP, even when administered at a dosage of 100 mg/d, for the treatment of detoxified alcohol-dependent subjects, confirming results from previous studies testing higher doses of TOP.
2014
Inglese
Martinotti, G., Di Nicola, M., De Vita, O., Hatzigiakoumis, D. S., Guglielmo, R., Santucci, B., Aliotta, F., Romanelli, R., Verrastro, V., Petruccelli, F., Di Giannantonio, M., Janiri, L., Low-dose topiramate in alcohol dependence: a single-blind, placebo-controlled study, <<JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY>>, 2014; 34 (6): 709-715. [doi:10.1097/JCP.0000000000000228] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/63436]
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10807/63436
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 7
  • Scopus 44
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 39
social impact