The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7251 p741
31 May 2003

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The Lancet (www.thelancet.com)

Treating alcoholism with topiramate

Topiramate (Topamax) could be used to treat alcohol dependence, research suggests.

A 12-week study involving 150 people found that those taking topiramate had 2.9 fewer drinks per day than those taking placebo. In addition, the topiramate group had 28 per cent fewer heavy drinking days and 26 per cent more abstinent days (Lancet 2003;361:1677).

An accompanying editorial notes that the study contrasts with most alcoholism studies, which tend to measure persistence in abstinent patients. The results suggest that different therapies could be targeted at different stages of treatment (ibid, p1666).