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Comparison between baclofen and topiramate in alcohol dependence: A prospective study
Nimmi A Jose1, Pooja Yadav1, Abhishek Kapoor1
1Department of Psychiatry, Shri Guru Gobind Tricentenary Medical College and Hospital, Gurugram, Haryana, India.
Industrial Psychiatry Journal
|December 28, 2019
Summary
Baclofen demonstrated superior efficacy and tolerability compared to topiramate for treating alcohol dependence. This study found baclofen significantly reduced alcohol craving and improved abstinence rates over a one-month period.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Baclofen and topiramate are GABAergic medications explored for alcohol dependence treatment.
- Previous research indicates their potential as anticraving agents, but direct comparisons are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy and tolerability of baclofen versus topiramate in treating alcohol dependence.
- To assess their effectiveness as anticraving agents over a one-month follow-up period.
Main Methods:
- 94 patients with alcohol dependence were randomized to receive either baclofen (n=49) or topiramate (n=45) after a 1-week detoxification.
- Assessments included the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment, Addiction Severity Index, Ready to Change Questionnaire, and Obsessive and Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS) for craving.
- Adverse effects were monitored weekly to evaluate tolerability.
Main Results:
- Baclofen showed a marked improvement in OCDS scores compared to topiramate.
- Complete abstinence was achieved by 61.22% of patients on baclofen versus 37.78% on topiramate.
- Baclofen exhibited better tolerability, with a dropout rate of 24.49% compared to 33.33% for topiramate.
Conclusions:
- Baclofen is more effective than topiramate in reducing craving and promoting abstinence in alcohol dependence.
- Baclofen offers superior tolerability, making it a potentially preferred treatment option.
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