Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · Sep 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialDivalproex sodium in alcohol withdrawal: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Divalproex sodium, an anticonvulsant and antikindling agent and gamma-aminobutyric acid enhancer, has been proposed as an alternative to benzodiazepines for treating alcohol withdrawal. This study reports on a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of divalproex sodium in acute alcohol withdrawal. ⋯ This placebo-controlled pilot study suggests that divalproex sodium significantly affects the course of acute alcohol withdrawal and reduces the need for treatment with a benzodiazepine. A more aggressive loading dose strategy may demonstrate a more robust or earlier response.
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · Mar 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialLong-term follow-up of a high school alcohol misuse prevention program's effect on students' subsequent driving.
Alcohol-related injuries, particularly motor vehicle, are an important cause of adolescent mortality. School-based alcohol prevention programs have not been evaluated in terms of driving outcomes. This study examined the effects on subsequent driving of a high school-based alcohol prevention program. ⋯ These findings suggest that a high school-based alcohol prevention program can positively affect subsequent driving, particularly that of students who do not use alcohol regularly. The results highlight the need to start prevention efforts early and extend them beyond the initial exposure to driving. Programs should incorporate the differing backgrounds of the students.
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · Sep 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialValidity of self-reported alcohol consumption in nondependent drinkers with unintentional injuries.
Self-report has become an anchor for alcohol assessment in the acute and primary care populations. The purpose of the study was to determine the validity of self-reported alcohol consumption after unintentional injuries in hospitalized, nondependent drinkers. ⋯ Most nondependent patients with unintentional injury acknowledged drinking before injury. After injury, women and men have different patterns of reporting their drinking, with men more frequently underreporting but reporting more accurately and women more random in their self-reports.
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · May 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialCombining ondansetron and naltrexone effectively treats biologically predisposed alcoholics: from hypotheses to preliminary clinical evidence.
Individuals considered to be early onset alcoholics (EOA) are characterized by an early onset age, a broad range of antisocial behaviors, high familial loading, and presumed biological disease predisposition. Ondansetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist, improves drinking outcomes and increases abstinence rates among EOA. Individuals with high familial loading for developing alcoholism have lower levels of beta-endorphin and demonstrate a more pronounced increase in beta-endorphin levels in response to alcohol administration compared with individuals who do not have alcoholic relatives. The propensity for naltrexone (a mu opioid antagonist) to reduce alcohol's rewarding effects and drinking in humans is greatest in individuals with high familial loading. Predicated on the added knowledge that 5-HT3 receptors may themselves mediate alcohol reward via activation of the endogenous opioid system, we hypothesized that the combination of ondansetron and naltrexone would act synergistically and would be an effective treatment in EOA. ⋯ Ondansetron plus naltrexone seems to synergistically improve the drinking outcomes of EOA. Larger scale studies that test these medications, both alone and together, among various alcoholic subtypes are needed to establish and extend these promising findings.
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · Oct 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialGamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome: a randomized comparative study versus benzodiazepine.
Benzodiazepine has been shown to be one of the most effective class of drugs in the management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) has recently been introduced in the treatment of alcohol problems, including AWS. At present there are no comparative studies between benzodiazepines and GHB in AWS treatment. The aim of the present randomized, controlled, single-blind study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of GHB compared with diazepam in the treatment of AWS. ⋯ GHB is as effective in the management of AWS as benzodiazepine and it seems to be quicker in reducing anxiety, agitation, and depression. Both drugs are safe and well-tolerated in AWS management.