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Background: Alcohol use disorder is a major societal and individual burden that exacerbates health outcomes, decreases quality of life, and negatively affects U.S. healthcare spending. Although pharmacological treatments are available for alcohol use disorder, many of them are limited by small effect sizes and used infrequently. Citicoline is a widely available over‐the‐counter supplement with a favorable side effect profile. It acts through cholinergic pathways and phospholipid metabolism. The current report examines the effect of oral citicoline on alcohol use, craving, depressive symptoms, and cognitive outcomes in individuals with alcohol use disorder. Methods: A 12‐week, randomized, double‐blind, parallel‐group, placebo‐controlled, pilot study of citicoline (titrated to 2,000 mg/d) in 62 adults (age 18 to 75) with alcohol use disorder was conducted. Alcohol use, such as number of drinking days, amount used, and number of heavy drinking days, was assessed using the Timeline Followback method and liver enzymes, while alcohol craving was measured using the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale. A neurocognitive battery (e.g., Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test) and depressive symptoms scale (e.g., Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self‐Report) scores were also collected. Data were analyzed using a random regression analysis. Results: The primary outcome analysis was conducted in the intent‐to‐treat sample and consisted of 55 participants (78.2% men and 21.8% women, mean age of 46.47 ± 9.15 years). In the assessment period, the drinking days, on average, represented 77% of the assessed days. Significant between‐group differences were not observed on alcohol use, craving, and cognitive or depressive symptom measures. Citicoline was well tolerated. Conclusions: This proof‐of‐concept study observed that citicoline was well tolerated, but was not associated with a reduction in alcohol use or other outcomes, as compared to placebo. The favorable effects reported with citicoline for cocaine use, cognitive disorders, and other conditions do not appear to extend to alcohol use disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Alcohol dependence is common in bipolar disorder ( BPD) and associated with treatment nonadherence, violence, and hospitalization. Quetiapine is a standard treatment for BPD. We previously reported improvement in depressive symptoms, but not alcohol use, with quetiapine in BPD and alcohol dependence. However, mean alcohol use was low and a larger effect size on alcohol-related measures was observed in those with higher levels of alcohol consumption. In this study, efficacy of quetiapine in patients with BPD and alcohol dependence was examined in patients with higher mean baseline alcohol use than in the prior study. Methods Ninety outpatients with bipolar I or II disorders, depressed or mixed mood state, and current alcohol dependence were randomized to 12 weeks of sustained release quetiapine (to 600 mg/d) add-on therapy or placebo. Drinking was quantified using the Timeline Follow Back method. Additional assessment tools included the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology- Self- Report, Young Mania Rating Scale, Penn Alcohol Craving Scale, liver enzymes, and side effects. Alcohol use and mood were analyzed using a declining-effects random-regression model. Results Baseline and demographic characteristics in the 2 groups were similar. No significant between-group differences were observed on the primary outcome measure of drinks per day or other alcohol-related or mood measures ( p > 0.05). Overall side effect burden, glucose, and cholesterol were similar in the 2 groups. However, a significant weight increase was observed with quetiapine at week 6 (+2.9 lbs [ SE 1.4] quetiapine vs. −2.0 lbs [ SE 1.4], p = 0.03), but not at week 12. Scores on the Barnes Akathisia Scale increased significantly more ( p = 0.04) with quetiapine (+0.40 [ SE 0.3]) than placebo (−0.52 [ SE 0.3]) at week 6 but not week 12. Retention (survival) in the study was similar in the groups. Conclusions Findings suggest that quetiapine does not reduce alcohol consumption in patients with BPD and alcohol dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]