title: Topiramate attenuates withdrawal signs after chronic intermittent ethanol in rats.
abstract: Topiramate, a novel anticonvulsant drug, has CNS depressant activity including enhancement of GABAergic inhibitory synaptic transmission. Drugs of this pharmacological spectrum might have utility in assuaging drug addiction. This study analyzes the ability of TPM to reduce withdrawal signs in the kindling model of ethanol dependence: chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) rats. After CIE, persistent withdrawal signs are shown by an increased seizure susceptibility to the convulsant drug pentylenetetrazol and increased anxiety measured on the elevated plus-maze. Topiramate increased significantly the PTZ seizure threshold in CIE but not in control rats. On the elevated plus-maze, Topiramate was markedly more effective in CIE rats than in controls. Topiramate may have a therapeutic efficacy in treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Room CHS 23-120, 650 Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cagetti
authors.forename: Kate J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Baicy
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Olsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005632:Fructose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D000077236:Topiramate
chemical_list: D000077236:Topiramate; D005632:Fructose; D000431:Ethanol