BACKGROUND: A 6-month naturalistic, randomized and open-label, trial of topiramate versus naltrexone was conducted, with assessments at enrollment and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. 182 alcohol-dependent patients who had been drinking heavily during the past month were included. METHODS: Outcome was measured using tools that assessed alcohol intake, cravings, disability, and quality of life; changes in biomarkers of alcohol intake were also used. RESULTS: At the 6-month evaluation, patients taking topiramate had significantly lower scores on the OCDS (all subscales), the EuropASI (medical, alcohol, family/social, and psychiatric) and the WHO/DAS (employment/social). More patients taking topiramate remained in the abstinence group and the moderate drinking without problems group. CONCLUSIONS:Topiramate at a mean dose of 200 mg/day was better than naltrexone at a mean dose of 50 mg/day at reducing alcohol intake and cravings throughout the study.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: A 6-month naturalistic, randomized and open-label, trial of topiramate versus naltrexone was conducted, with assessments at enrollment and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. 182 alcohol-dependent patients who had been drinking heavily during the past month were included. METHODS: Outcome was measured using tools that assessed alcohol intake, cravings, disability, and quality of life; changes in biomarkers of alcohol intake were also used. RESULTS: At the 6-month evaluation, patients taking topiramate had significantly lower scores on the OCDS (all subscales), the EuropASI (medical, alcohol, family/social, and psychiatric) and the WHO/DAS (employment/social). More patients taking topiramate remained in the abstinence group and the moderate drinking without problems group. CONCLUSIONS:Topiramate at a mean dose of 200 mg/day was better than naltrexone at a mean dose of 50 mg/day at reducing alcohol intake and cravings throughout the study.
Authors: Henry R Kranzler; Reagan Wetherill; Richard Feinn; Timothy Pond; Joel Gelernter; Jonathan Covault Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2014-12 Impact factor: 3.455
Authors: C E Van Skike; S E Maggio; A R Reynolds; E M Casey; M T Bardo; L P Dwoskin; M A Prendergast; K Nixon Journal: Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry Date: 2015-11-12 Impact factor: 5.067