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The acute effects of gabapentin in combination with alcohol in heavy drinkers
- Source :
- Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 83:25-32
- Publication Year :
- 2006
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2006.
-
Abstract
- Background Alcohol effects in humans involve gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission. It has been proposed that GABAergic medications may be effective in the treatment of alcohol dependence. This study evaluated the acute effects of gabapentin, an anticonvulsant that increases extracellular GABA, on the subjective, physiological, and performance effects of alcohol in heavy (mean 34 drinks per week) alcohol drinkers. Methods Seventeen volunteers without alcohol dependence were tested using a double-blind design with three 3-day long inpatient phases, each separated by at least a 1-week wash-out period. Each phase, gabapentin (0, 1000, or 2000 mg) was administered 4 h before alcohol (0.75 g/kg), which was given in four divided doses every 20 min. Results Gabapentin impaired the ability to balance without producing changes in subjective, physiological or other performance measures. Pretreatment with gabapentin did not significantly alter subjective and performance effects of alcohol and did not alter alcohol craving. Gabapentin, dose-dependently enhanced alcohol-induced tachycardia. Conclusions Acute gabapentin administration was well tolerated in combination with alcohol, but did not alter the effects of alcohol.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids
Gabapentin
Premedication
medicine.medical_treatment
Analgesic
Alcohol
Craving
Neuropsychological Tests
Toxicology
chemistry.chemical_compound
Double-Blind Method
Heart Rate
medicine
Humans
Drug Interactions
Pharmacology (medical)
Amines
GABA Agonists
Postural Balance
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
Pharmacology
Motivation
Ethanol
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Alcohol dependence
Verbal Learning
Alcoholism
Psychiatry and Mental health
Anticonvulsant
chemistry
Anesthesia
Mental Recall
Anticonvulsants
Female
medicine.symptom
Psychology
Alcoholic Intoxication
Psychomotor Performance
medicine.drug
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 03768716
- Volume :
- 83
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Drug and Alcohol Dependence
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....e1056b742bef347a9a803ef30de66f13
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2005.10.008