topiramate and Alcohol-Related-Disorders

topiramate has been researched along with Alcohol-Related-Disorders* in 20 studies

Reviews

8 review(s) available for topiramate and Alcohol-Related-Disorders

ArticleYear
Strategies to increase implementation of pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorders: a structured review of care delivery and implementation interventions.
    Addiction science & clinical practice, 2019, 02-12, Volume: 14, Issue:1

    Effective medications for treating alcohol use disorders (AUD) are available but underutilized. Multiple barriers to their provision have been identified, and optimal strategies for addressing and overcoming barriers to use of medications for AUD treatment remain elusive. We conducted a structured review of published care delivery and implementation studies evaluating interventions that aimed to increase medication treatment for patients with AUD to identify interventions and component strategies that were most effective.. We reviewed literature through May 2018 and used networking to identify intervention studies with AUD medication receipt reported as a primary or secondary outcome. Studies were identified as care delivery studies, characterized by patient-level recruitment and willingness to be randomized to candidate treatment options, and implementation studies, characterized by inclusion of all patients treated at sites involved in the study. Each identified study was independently coded by two investigators for strategies used, guided by a published taxonomy of implementation strategies. All authors reviewed coding discrepancies and revised codes based on consensus. After reaching internal consensus, we solicited feedback from lead investigators on studies to code additional strategies. We reviewed implementation strategies used across studies to assess their relationship with medication receipt, as well as alcohol use outcomes, as available.. Nine studies were identified: four RCTs of care delivery interventions, four quasi-experimental evaluations of large-scale implementation interventions, and one quasi-experimental evaluation of a targeted single-site implementation intervention. Implementation strategies used were variable across studies; no strategy was universally used. Effects of the interventions on receipt of AUD pharmacotherapy and alcohol use outcomes also varied. Three of four care delivery interventions resulted in increased receipt of AUD medications, but only one of these three improved alcohol use outcomes. One large-scale and one single-site implementation intervention were associated with increased AUD medication receipt, and these studies did not assess alcohol use outcomes. Patterns of implementation strategies did not clearly distinguish studies that successfully increased use of pharmacotherapy versus those that did not.. Our review did not reveal strategies most effective for implementing AUD medications. Interventions designed to overcome identified barriers may have missed the mark, or differences in the intensity or targets of strategies may matter more than differences in strategies. Further research is needed to understand effective implementation methods and to better understand patient-level perspective, preferences and barriers to receipt of medications.

    Topics: Acamprosate; Alcohol Deterrents; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Alcoholism; Clinical Trials as Topic; Disulfiram; Naltrexone; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Topiramate; United States; United States Department of Veterans Affairs; Veterans

2019
Topiramate in Alcohol Use Disorders: Review and Update.
    CNS drugs, 2015, Volume: 29, Issue:5

    To date, a limited number of pharmacological agents exist to treat alcohol use disorders (AUDs), and there is growing interest in new therapeutic tools. In this framework, topiramate may represent a useful treatment option, although its use is not yet approved for AUDs. The main focus of this review is to discuss all the existing data supporting the use of topiramate in AUDs, with an emphasis on the most recent and relevant clinical implications. In addition, the profile of the alcoholic patient who may benefit more from the use of topiramate is outlined. In this regard, the authors conducted a PubMed search of clinical human studies published in English using the following key words: topiramate alcohol dependence, topiramate alcohol withdrawal and topiramate alcoholism. The evidence suggests that topiramate could be an effective treatment option for the management of AUDs, while there are limited results for its use to treat alcohol withdrawal syndrome. In particular, topiramate shows a greater beneficial effect in subjects with a typology of craving characterised by drinking obsessions and automaticity of drinking. Topiramate, within the dosage range of 75-300 mg/day, could be considered as a first-line treatment option for the management of AUDs. Its use appears to be safe and well-tolerated, especially in light of very recent findings.

    Topics: Alcohol Deterrents; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Fructose; Humans; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Topiramate

2015
Pharmacogenetics of alcohol use disorders and comorbid psychiatric disorders.
    Psychiatry research, 2015, Dec-15, Volume: 230, Issue:2

    Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) represent a significant health burden worldwide. Currently, there are three medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of AUDs, and other drugs are being prescribed off-label for this purpose. However, response rates for pharmacologic treatment are low, and extant research suggests that treatment effects may partially depend on genetic factors. Personalized medicine, or using a patient's genetics and/or personal history to determine efficacy of treatment prior to prescription, is an emerging tool that will help clinicians treat their patients more effectively and safely. This review systematically discusses current findings from AUD pharmacotherapy trials examining disulfiram, acamprosate, naltrexone, the injectable naltrexone, and topiramate. Furthermore, it presents pharmacogenetics findings associated with these medications in an attempt to further the field of personalized medicine. Research from trials examining AUDs and comorbid major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders is also presented, and pharmacogenetic findings for these treatments are discussed. Lastly, the authors comment on the present and future states of the field of personalized medicine for AUD.

    Topics: Acamprosate; Alcohol Deterrents; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Anxiety Disorders; Comorbidity; Depressive Disorder, Major; Disulfiram; Fructose; Humans; Naltrexone; Pharmacogenetics; Precision Medicine; Taurine; Topiramate; United States

2015
Pharmacotherapy of alcohol use disorders: seventy-five years of progress.
    Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs. Supplement, 2014, Volume: 75 Suppl 17

    Modern pharmacotherapy for alcohol dependence has its roots in the failure of National Prohibition in the United States and the rise of the disease model of alcoholism (embodied in Alcoholics Anonymous). In 1948, disulfiram was the first medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat alcohol dependence, but its efficacy has not been supported by randomized controlled trials. In the 1960s, benzodiazepines replaced older treatments for alcohol withdrawal, but sedative and dependence-producing effects limit their utility in the postwithdrawal period. In the 1980s, the focus shifted to the treatment of co-occurring psychiatric disorders and medications that modify negative mood states, which contribute to relapse to heavy drinking. In the 1990s, developments in neurobiology implicated specific neurotransmitter systems underlying alcohol's effects, culminating in the 1994 approval by the FDA of the opioid antagonist naltrexone to treat alcohol dependence. In 2006, the FDA approved a long-acting formulation of naltrexone. Recently, nalmefene, another opioid receptor antagonist, was approved in Europe for as-needed use to reduce heavy drinking. Acamprosate, an amino acid derivative, first approved in France in 1989, received FDA approval in 2004. However, the beneficial effects of the approved medications are only modestly greater than those of placebo, and their use is limited. Topiramate, currently under investigation for alcohol dependence, has greater efficacy but a variety of adverse effects. In addition to the identification of novel compounds, the future of alcohol dependence pharmacotherapy will depend on developments in pharmacogenetics, in which genetic variation that moderates treatment efficacy and adverse effects is used to personalize treatment.

    Topics: Acamprosate; Alcohol Deterrents; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Disulfiram; Fructose; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Narcotic Antagonists; Pharmacogenetics; Taurine; Topiramate

2014
Pharmacotherapy for adults with alcohol use disorders in outpatient settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
    JAMA, 2014, May-14, Volume: 311, Issue:18

    Alcohol use disorders cause substantial morbidity and early mortality yet remain greatly undertreated. Medications are considerably underused.. To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the benefits and harms of medications (US FDA-approved and others) for adults with alcohol use disorders.. PubMed, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, FDA website, and clinical trials registries (January 1, 1970, to March 1, 2014).. Two reviewers selected randomized clinical trials (RCTs) with at least 12 weeks' duration that reported eligible outcomes and head-to-head prospective cohort studies reporting health outcomes or harms.. We conducted meta-analyses using random-effects models and calculated numbers needed to treat for benefit (NNTs) or harm (NNHs).. Alcohol consumption, motor vehicle crashes, injuries, quality of life, function, mortality, and harms.. We included 122 RCTs and 1 cohort study (total 22,803 participants). Most assessed acamprosate (27 studies, n = 7519), naltrexone (53 studies, n = 9140), or both. The NNT to prevent return to any drinking for acamprosate was 12 (95% CI, 8 to 26; risk difference [RD], -0.09; 95% CI, -0.14 to -0.04) and was 20 (95% CI, 11 to 500; RD, -0.05; 95% CI, -0.10 to -0.002) for oral naltrexone (50 mg/d). The NNT to prevent return to heavy drinking was 12 (95% CI, 8 to 26; RD -0.09; 95% CI, -0.13 to -0.04) for oral naltrexone (50 mg/d). Meta-analyses of trials comparing acamprosate to naltrexone found no statistically significant difference between them for return to any drinking (RD, 0.02; 95% CI, -0.03 to 0.08) or heavy drinking (RD, 0.01; 95% CI, -0.05 to 0.06). For injectable naltrexone, meta-analyses found no association with return to any drinking (RD, -0.04; 95% CI, -0.10 to 0.03) or heavy drinking (RD, -0.01; 95% CI, -0.14 to 0.13) but found an association with reduction in heavy drinking days (weighted mean difference [WMD], -4.6%; 95% CI, -8.5% to -0.56%). Among medications used off-label, moderate evidence supports an association with improvement in some consumption outcomes for nalmefene (heavy drinking days per month: WMD, -2.0; 95% CI, -3.0 to -1.0; drinks per drinking day: WMD, -1.02; 95% CI, -1.77 to -0.28) and topiramate (% heavy drinking days: WMD, -9.0%; 95% CI, -15.3% to -2.7%; drinks per drinking day: WMD, -1.0; 95% CI, -1.6 to -0.48). For naltrexone and nalmefene, NNHs for withdrawal from trials due to adverse events were 48 (95% CI, 30 to 112) and 12 (95% CI, 7 to 50), respectively; risk was not significantly increased for acamprosate or topiramate.. Both acamprosate and oral naltrexone were associated with reduction in return to drinking. When directly compared with one another, no significant differences were found between acamprosate and naltrexone for controlling alcohol consumption. Factors such as dosing frequency, potential adverse events, and availability of treatments may guide medication choice.

    Topics: Acamprosate; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Fructose; Harm Reduction; Humans; Naltrexone; Outpatients; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Taurine; Topiramate

2014
Topiramate in the treatment of substance-related disorders: a critical review of the literature.
    The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 2010, Volume: 71, Issue:5

    To critically review the literature on topiramate in the treatment of substance-related disorders.. A PubMed search of human studies published in English through January 2009 was conducted using the following search terms: topiramate and substance abuse, topiramate and substance dependence, topiramate and withdrawal, topiramate and alcohol, topiramate and nicotine, topiramate and cocaine, topiramate and opiates, and topiramate and benzodiazepines.. 26 articles were identified and reviewed; these studies examined topiramate in disorders related to alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, methamphetamine, opioids, Ecstasy, and benzodiazepines.. Study design, sample size, topiramate dose and duration, and study outcomes were reviewed.. There is compelling evidence for the efficacy of topiramate in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Two trials show trends for topiramate's superiority over oral naltrexone in alcohol dependence, while 1 trial suggests topiramate is inferior to disulfiram. Despite suggestive animal models, evidence for topiramate in treating alcohol withdrawal in humans is slim. Studies of topiramate in nicotine dependence show mixed results. Human laboratory studies that used acute topiramate dosing show that topiramate actually enhances the pleasurable effects of both nicotine and methamphetamine. Evidence for topiramate in the treatment of cocaine dependence is promising, but limited by small sample size. The data on opioids, benzodiazepines, and Ecstasy are sparse.. Topiramate is efficacious for the treatment of alcohol dependence, but side effects may limit widespread use. While topiramate's unique pharmacodynamic profile offers a promising theoretical rationale for use across multiple substance-related disorders, heterogeneity both across and within these disorders limits topiramate's broad applicability in treating substance-related disorders. Recommendations for future research include exploration of genetic variants for more targeted pharmacotherapies.

    Topics: Alcohol-Related Disorders; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Fructose; Humans; Neuroprotective Agents; Opioid-Related Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Tobacco Use Disorder; Topiramate

2010
World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) Guidelines for Biological Treatment of Substance Use and Related Disorders, Part 1: Alcoholism.
    The world journal of biological psychiatry : the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry, 2008, Volume: 9, Issue:1

    These practice guidelines for the biological treatment of substance use disorders were developed by an international Task Force of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP). The goal during the development of these guidelines was to review systematically all available evidence pertaining to the treatment of substance use disorders, and to reach a consensus on a series of practice recommendations that are clinically and scientifically meaningful based on the available evidence. These guidelines are intended for use by physicians evaluating and treating people with substance use disorders and are primarily concerned with the biological treatment of adults suffering from substance use disorders. The data used to develop these guidelines were extracted primarily from various national treatment guidelines for substance use disorders, as well as from meta-analyses, reviews and randomized clinical trials on the efficacy of pharmacological and other biological treatment interventions identified by a search of the MEDLINE database and Cochrane Library. The identified literature was evaluated with respect to the strength of evidence for its efficacy and then categorized into four levels of evidence (A-D). This first part of the guidelines covers the treatment of alcohol dependence; Part 2 will be devoted to the treatment of drug dependence.

    Topics: Acamprosate; Alcohol Deterrents; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Biological Psychiatry; Carbamazepine; Disulfiram; Fructose; Health Planning Guidelines; Humans; Naltrexone; Ondansetron; Societies, Scientific; Substance-Related Disorders; Taurine; Topiramate

2008
Uses of topiramate in the treatment of alcohol dependence.
    Expert review of neurotherapeutics, 2004, Volume: 4, Issue:5

    Alcohol dependence is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the USA and throughout the world. Over the last 10 years there has been an intense interest in developing pharmacotherapies that address the neurochemistry of alcohol dependence. Using a novel pharmacological approach to treating alcohol dependence, topiramate (Topamax, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical) has recently been shown to improve the drinking outcomes of alcohol-dependent individuals. This drug profile highlights the scientific concepts and clinical evidence in the development of topiramate for treating alcohol dependence.

    Topics: Adult; Aged; Alcohol Drinking; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Clinical Trials as Topic; Confidence Intervals; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Fructose; gamma-Glutamyltransferase; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Biological; Neuroprotective Agents; Probability; Time Factors; Topiramate; Treatment Outcome

2004

Trials

4 trial(s) available for topiramate and Alcohol-Related-Disorders

ArticleYear
Biobehavioral mechanisms of topiramate's effects on alcohol use: an investigation pairing laboratory and ecological momentary assessments.
    Addiction biology, 2016, Volume: 21, Issue:1

    Topiramate reduces drinking, but little is known about the mechanisms that precipitate this effect. This double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study assessed the putative mechanisms by which topiramate reduces alcohol use among 96 adult non-treatment-seeking heavy drinkers in a laboratory-based alcohol cue reactivity assessment and in the natural environment using ecological momentary assessment methods. Topiramate reduced the quantity of alcohol heavy drinkers consumed on drinking days and reduced craving while participants were drinking but did not affect craving outside of drinking episodes in either the laboratory or in the natural environment. Topiramate did not alter the stimulant or sedative effects of alcohol ingestion during the ascending limb of the blood alcohol curve. A direct test of putative mechanisms of action using multilevel structural equation mediation models showed that topiramate reduced drinking indirectly by blunting alcohol-induced craving. These findings provide the first real-time prospective evidence that topiramate reduces drinking by reducing alcohol's priming effects on craving and highlight the importance of craving as an important treatment target of pharmacotherapy for alcoholism.

    Topics: Adult; Alcohol Drinking; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Anticonvulsants; Craving; Cues; Double-Blind Method; Female; Fructose; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Multilevel Analysis; Topiramate; Young Adult

2016
A randomized, placebo-controlled proof-of-concept trial of adjunctive topiramate for alcohol use disorders in bipolar disorder.
    The American journal on addictions, 2016, Volume: 25, Issue:2

    Topiramate is effective for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) among non-psychiatric patients. We examined topiramate for treating comorbid AUDs in bipolar disorder (BD).. Twelve participants were randomized to topiramate or placebo for 12 weeks.. The topiramate group, with two out of five participants (40%) completing treatment, experienced less improvement in drinking patterns than the placebo group, with five out of seven participants (71%) completing treatment.. Topiramate did not improve drinking behavior and was not well-tolerated. This study failed to recruit adequately. Problems surrounding high attrition, a small study sample, and missing data preclude interpretation of study findings.. This is the first randomized, placebo-controlled trial of topiramate for AUDs in BD.

    Topics: Alcohol Drinking; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Bipolar Disorder; Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Fructose; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neuroprotective Agents; Topiramate; Treatment Outcome

2016
Zonisamide, topiramate, and levetiracetam: efficacy and neuropsychological effects in alcohol use disorders.
    Journal of clinical psychopharmacology, 2015, Volume: 35, Issue:1

    The anticonvulsant topiramate not only decreases ethanol consumption in alcohol dependence (AD) but also may produce several adverse events including cognitive impairment. Zonisamide is a structurally related anticonvulsant that is a promising agent for the treatment of AD and may have greater tolerability than topiramate. This study evaluated the effects of zonisamide (400 mg/d) on alcohol consumption and its neurotoxic effects in subjects with AD. A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted using 2 comparator anticonvulsant drugs, topiramate (300 mg/d) and levetiracetam (2000 mg/d), which does not impair cognition. Study medications were administered for 14 weeks, including a 2-week taper period. Medication adherence was facilitated using Brief Behavioral Compliance Enhancement Treatment. The neurotoxicity of the study drugs was assessed using neuropsychological tests and the AB-Neurotoxicity Scale. Compared with placebo, both zonisamide and topiramate produced significant reductions in the drinks consumed per day, percent days drinking, and percent days heavy drinking. Only the percent days heavy drinking was significantly decreased in the levetiracetam group. The topiramate cell was the only group that had a significant increase on the mental slowing subscale of the Neurotoxicity Scale compared with placebo at study weeks 11 and 12. Topiramate and zonisamide both produced modest reductions in verbal fluency and working memory. These findings indicate that zonisamide may have efficacy in the treatment of AD, with effect sizes similar to topiramate. Both of these drugs produced similar patterns of cognitive impairment, although only the topiramate group reported significant increases in mental slowing.

    Topics: Adult; Aged; Alcohol Drinking; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Anticonvulsants; Cognition Disorders; Double-Blind Method; Female; Fructose; Humans; Isoxazoles; Levetiracetam; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Piracetam; Topiramate; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult; Zonisamide

2015
Topiramate treatment of alcohol use disorder in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled pilot trial.
    Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research, 2014, Volume: 38, Issue:8

    The course of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is frequently and severely complicated by co-occurring alcohol use disorder (AUD), yet there are few reports of pharmacologic treatments for these comorbid conditions. The objective of this pilot study was to obtain a preliminary assessment of the efficacy and safety of topiramate in reducing alcohol use and PTSD symptoms in veterans with both disorders.. This was a prospective 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial of flexible-dose topiramate up to 300 mg/d in 30 veterans with PTSD and AUD. The primary outcome measure was frequency of drinking. Secondary outcomes consisted of other measures of alcohol use and PTSD symptom severity.. Within-group analyses showed that topiramate treatment was associated with significant reductions in frequency and amount of alcohol use and alcohol craving from baseline through week 12. Between-group analyses showed that topiramate reduced frequency of alcohol use and alcohol craving significantly more than placebo and tended to reduce drinking amount. Topiramate treatment was also associated with decreased PTSD symptom severity and tended to reduce hyperarousal symptoms compared with placebo. Topiramate transiently impaired learning and memory, with significant recovery by the end of treatment.. These preliminary results indicate that in veterans with co-occurring PTSD and AUD, topiramate may be effective in reducing alcohol consumption, alcohol craving, and PTSD symptom severity-particularly hyperarousal symptoms. Topiramate was associated with transient cognitive impairment but was otherwise well tolerated.

    Topics: Adult; Alcohol Drinking; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Cognition Disorders; Craving; Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); Double-Blind Method; Female; Fructose; Humans; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Topiramate; Treatment Outcome; Veterans

2014

Other Studies

8 other study(ies) available for topiramate and Alcohol-Related-Disorders

ArticleYear
More Treatments on Deck for Alcohol Use Disorder.
    JAMA, 2017, Jun-13, Volume: 317, Issue:22

    Topics: Acamprosate; Alcohol Deterrents; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Amines; Baclofen; Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; Cytidine Diphosphate Choline; Disulfiram; Drug Repositioning; Fructose; Gabapentin; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; Humans; Mifepristone; Naltrexone; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (U.S.); Off-Label Use; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Taurine; Topiramate; United States; Varenicline

2017
Multifaceted academic detailing program to increase pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder: interrupted time series evaluation of effectiveness.
    Addiction science & clinical practice, 2016, 09-15, Volume: 11, Issue:1

    Active consideration of effective medications to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a consensus standard of care, yet knowledge and use of these medications are very low across diverse settings. This study evaluated the overall effectiveness a multifaceted academic detailing program to address this persistent quality problem in the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA), as well as the context and process factors that explained variation in effectiveness across sites.. An interrupted time series design, analyzed with mixed-effects segmented logistic regression, was used to evaluate changes in level and rate of change in the monthly percent of patients with a clinically documented AUD who received naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram, or topiramate. Using data from a 20 month post-implementation period, intervention sites (n = 37) were compared to their own 16 month pre-implementation performance and separately to the rest of VHA.. From immediately pre-intervention to the end of the observation period, the percent of patients in the intervention sites with AUD who received medication increased over 3.4 % in absolute terms and 68 % in relative terms (i.e., 4.9-8.3 %). This change was significant compared to the pre-implementation period in the intervention sites and secular trends in control sites. Sites with lower pre-implementation adoption, more person hours of detailing, but fewer people detailed, had larger immediate increases in medication receipt after implementation. The average number of detailing encounters per person was associated with steeper increases in slope over time.. This study found empirical support for a multifaceted quality improvement strategy aimed at increasing access to and utilization of pharmacotherapy for AUD. Future studies should focus on determining how to enhance the programs effects, especially in non-responsive locations.

    Topics: Acamprosate; Adult; Alcohol Deterrents; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Disulfiram; Female; Fructose; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Naltrexone; Patient Compliance; Taurine; Topiramate; United States; United States Department of Veterans Affairs; Veterans; Young Adult

2016
Acute and chronic administration of a low-dose combination of topiramate and ondansetron reduces ethanol's reinforcing effects in male alcohol preferring (P) rats.
    Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 2014, Volume: 22, Issue:1

    Topiramate (a GABA/glutamate modulator) and ondansetron (a serotonin-3 antagonist) have shown promise as treatments for alcohol use disorders (AUDs), although efficacy is modest/variable for both medications. We recently showed in animal models of consumption and relapse that acute treatment with a combination of these medications was more efficacious than either alone. To determine whether the mechanism for its beneficial effects is through modulation of ethanol's reinforcing effects, we measured the effect of this combination in male alcohol preferring (P) rats (N = 22) responding for ethanol under a progressive-ratio (PR) schedule. Low doses, which either do not affect (ondansetron; 0.001 mg/kg) or only modestly affect (topiramate; 10 mg/kg) alcohol-related behaviors on their own, were selected in an attempt to maximize their combined efficacy while minimizing potential side effects. In addition to acute treatment (1 day), the effects of chronic administration (10 days) were examined in an attempt to model human treatment approaches. The effects of the combination were compared with the low dose of topiramate alone hypothesizing that the combination would be more efficacious than topiramate alone. Although both topiramate and the combination similarly reduced PR responding for ethanol following acute treatment and during the initial phase of chronic treatment (Days 1-5), after repeated administration (Days 6-10), only the combination produced a sustained reduction in ethanol-maintained responding. These results suggest an advantage of the combination over topiramate alone at producing a sustained reduction in ethanol's reinforcing effects following prolonged treatment, and lend further support for its use as a potential treatment for AUDs.

    Topics: Alcohol-Related Disorders; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Ethanol; Fructose; GABA Modulators; Male; Ondansetron; Rats; Reinforcement Schedule; Serotonin Antagonists; Time Factors; Topiramate

2014
A commentary on topiramate treatment of alcohol use disorder in veterans with PTSD: a randomized controlled pilot trial.
    Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research, 2014, Volume: 38, Issue:8

    Topics: Alcohol Drinking; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Female; Fructose; Humans; Male; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Topiramate; Veterans

2014
Prescription of topiramate to treat alcohol use disorders in the Veterans Health Administration.
    Addiction science & clinical practice, 2013, Jul-08, Volume: 8

    As a quality improvement metric, the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA) monitors the proportion of patients with alcohol use disorders (AUD) who receive FDA approved medications for alcohol dependence (naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram). Evidence supporting the off-label use of the antiepileptic medication topiramate to treat alcohol dependence may be as strong as these approved medications. However, little is known about the extent to which topiramate is used in clinical practice. The goal of this study was to describe and examine the overall use, facility-level variation in use, and patient -level predictors of topiramate prescription for patients with AUD in the VHA.. Using national VHA administrative data in a retrospective cohort study, we examined time trends in topiramate use from fiscal years (FY) 2009-2012, and predictors of topiramate prescription in 375,777 patients identified with AUD (ICD-9-CM codes 303.9x or 305.0x) treated in 141 VHA facilities in FY 2011.. Among VHA patients with AUD, rates of topiramate prescription have increased from 0.99% in FY 2009 to 1.95% in FY 2012, although substantial variation across facilities exists. Predictors of topiramate prescription were female sex, young age, alcohol dependence diagnoses, engagement in both mental health and addiction specialty care, and psychiatric comorbidity.. Veterans Health Administration facilities are monitored regarding the extent to which patients with AUD are receiving FDA-approved pharmacotherapy. Not including topiramate in the metric, which is prescribed more often than acamprosate and disulfiram combined, may underestimate the extent to which VHA patients at specific facilities and overall are receiving pharmacotherapy for AUD.

    Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Alcohol Deterrents; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Drug Utilization; Female; Fructose; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders; Mental Health Services; Middle Aged; Off-Label Use; Retrospective Studies; Sex Factors; Topiramate; United States; United States Department of Veterans Affairs

2013
Treatment of alcohol-use disorders.
    Lancet (London, England), 2009, May-02, Volume: 373, Issue:9674

    Topics: Alcohol-Related Disorders; Drug Approval; Fructose; GABA Agents; Humans; Hydroxybutyrates; Patient Selection; Safety; Topiramate; Treatment Outcome

2009
Topiramate: 'small is beautiful'?
    Addiction (Abingdon, England), 2009, Volume: 104, Issue:8

    Topics: Alcohol Deterrents; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Fructose; Humans; Naltrexone; Topiramate; Treatment Outcome

2009
Alcohol dependence: after the withdrawal phase. Long-term abstinence: better health and psychosocial status. Psychosocial support for a chronic disorder. Some drugs are useful adjuncts to medical support.
    Prescrire international, 2009, Volume: 18, Issue:103

    Topics: Acamprosate; Alcohol Deterrents; Alcohol Drinking; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Alcoholics; Alcoholism; Anticonvulsants; Baclofen; Clinical Trials as Topic; Combined Modality Therapy; Disulfiram; France; Fructose; Health Status; Humans; Naltrexone; Psychotherapy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Secondary Prevention; Self-Help Groups; Social Support; Taurine; Temperance; Topiramate; Treatment Outcome

2009