The Effects of Topiramate on Alcohol Use in Alcohol Dependent Subjects

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

This investigation will assess the effectiveness of topiramate in reducing ethanol consumption by alcohol dependent subjects. It also will seek to establish whether topiramate can be safely used in this population including whether it might be subject to abuse by alcohol dependent individuals.

A secondary goal of this study is to assess the effects of topiramate on verbal fluency during treatment for alcohol dependence.

Clinical Trial Description

Alcoholism is a disorder that produces extensive morbidity and mortality. Substantial progress has been made in the development of medications that can help to promote abstinence in alcohol dependent individuals. However, investigations of the most promising drugs, particularly naltrexone and acamprosate, suggest that these agents have at best moderate efficacy and there is a great need for additional medications for the treatment of alcoholism.

The results of a recent study suggest that the administration of the anticonvulsant agent ,topiramate helps alcoholic individuals to maintain abstinence (Johnson et al., 2003). The objectives of this study is to determine whether topiramate will reduce the consumption of alcohol in subjects dependent on this substance, as has been previously reported.Other study objectives are to assess the abuse liability properties of topiramate in alcohol dependent subjects and to examine the effects of chronic topiramate administration on cognitive functioning.

This will be a thirteen week long open label clinical trial of the effects of topiramate administration on ethanol consumption by alcohol dependent subjects.

Subjects will be asked to provide informed consent and then will be screened on the same day to determine if they meet study eligibility criteria. Subjects will be asked to return to provide two urines over the following week.

Baseline measures of mood, craving, withdrawal, cognitive functioning and physical health will be obtained. In the afternoon they will receive their first dose of medication. Their responses to this medication challenge will be assessed over a 3-hour period.

During the drug treatment phase subjects will be asked to come to the clinic weekly for assessment and manual guided therapy during weeks 1-4 and biweekly during weeks 6-8. On day 85 subjects will be seen at the clinic for a termination visit. ;

Study Design

Allocation: Non-Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

Alcoholism

Clinical Trial Details

NCT number	NCT00329407
Study type	Interventional
Source	Boston University
Contact
Status	Completed
Phase	Phase 4
Start date	September 2003
Completion date	June 2008

View Details

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Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.

Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.