After heading a study spanning 2.5 years, Neuroscience Prof. Bankole A. Johnson found the drug topiramate to be a successful treatment for alcohol dependency.
Johnson, also the chair of psychiatric medicine at the University, worked with colleagues to conduct randomized, placebo-controlled trials to determine the usefulness of the drug.
"Our findings provided validation that individuals with alcohol dependence, while drinking heavily, can be treated safely and reliably with topiramate," Johnson said.
The 14-week trials, conducted from 2004 to 2006 at 17 U.S. sites, included 371 men and women ages 18 to 65 diagnosed with alcohol dependence. Participants received up to 300 mg of topiramate or a placebo each day. Rick Heisterman, a substance abuse clinician at University Counseling and Psychological Services, noted Johnson's study also included a "weekly psychological treatment" for the participants.
Topiramate is one of a few drugs that have proven effective in the treatment of alcohol dependency, according to Mark Willenbring, director of the Treatment and Recovery Research Division of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
"By historical standards, the pace of medication development for treating this disorder is increasing, and a variety of medications with different modes of action are now available," Willenbring said.
Many doctors will have the opportunity to prescribe topiramate as an "off-label" treatment to alcohol dependency, because Ortho-McNeil, the drug company that produces topiramate, will most likely not seek Food and Drug Administration approval because of costs, Willenbring said.
Since topiramate "reduces craving, decreases withdrawal symptoms and prevents relapse," Johnson said he expects topiramate will be useful "when you need it the most, when you're drinking heavily."
Both Johnson and Willenbring agree that this study will benefit those struggling with alcohol addiction, including college-aged students. Statistics indicate there is a sizable consumer market for such drugs. According to Willenbring, by age 30, more than 30 percent of Americans will have developed some type of alcohol-use disorder.
Dr. Ken Sher of the University of Missouri-Columbia? noted that students between the ages of 18 and 24 are at a "very high risk of developing some type of alcohol-use disorder," and that most students will most likely "mature out" of this type of behavior as they grow older.
A study printed by the Journal on Alcohol Studies in May 2002 indicated that "31 percent of college students meet the clinical criteria for alcohol abuse and six percent meet criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol dependence."?
Though he noted very few students currently have alcohol dependency issues at the University, Heisterman said any drug that diminishes the "craving, interest and use" of alcohol can be helpful.
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