New Drug May Curtail Heavy-Drinking Behavior

A drug, approved for seizures and migraine, may help patients addicted to alcohol by curtailing their heavy-drinking behavior, according to a recent study.

In a randomized trial sponsored by Ortho-McNeil Janssen, the drug topiramate was found to produce a reduction in the percentage of heavy drinking days when compared to a placebo. The study was led by Dr. Bankole A. Johnson, of the University of Virginia, and colleagues and was published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The study was made during a 14-weeks period in which 371 men and women, ages 18 to 65 (diagnosed with alcohol dependence). The trial was made during a 2-year period.

Men were asked not to limit their drinking behaviour during the study. They consumed 35 or more standard drinks a week while women has an average of 28 or more drinks a week. (A standard drink was 0.5 oz of absolute alcohol, equivalent to 4 oz of wine, 10 oz of beer, or one oz of 100-proof liquor).

Participants were randomly assigned to receive 300 mg/d of topiramate (183), or a placebo (188).Percentage of days abstinent and drinks per drinking day (self-reported) and a blood biochemical marker (plasma ã-glutamyltransferase) were used to measure alcohol behaviour.

According to the study, topiramate was more effective and efficient than the placebo at reducing the self-reported heavy drinking days (average of 81.9% to 43.8% for topiramate) and 82.0% to 51.8% for placebo.

The researchers also found that, compared to the placebo, taking the drug topiramate produced a higher rate of people staying sober for more than 28 days or more.

The plasma bio marker of drinking (plasma ã-glutamyltransferase) also pointed that topiramate more efficient than the placebo in curtailing heavy drinking.

AS with all drugs some adverse events were found with topiraramate. Among these adverse events were: paresthesia, taste perversion, anorexia, and difficulty with concentration. Reduced liver enzymes, decreased BMI, and lower plasma bicarbonate levels were other problems reported although no medical assistance was needed.