title: Effects of acamprosate on sleep during alcohol withdrawal: A double-blind placebo-controlled polysomnographic study in alcohol-dependent subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sleep disturbances are frequently encountered in alcohol-dependent patients. Drugs improving sleep during abstinence from alcohol may play an important role in the recovery process.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, the effects of acamprosate, a drug successfully used in maintaining abstinence following alcohol withdrawal, were assessed by polysomnographic recordings. A parallel double-blind placebo-controlled study was conducted in 24 male DSM-IV alcohol-dependent subjects aged 35.9+/-1.2 years. Treatments (2 tablets of 333 mg acamprosate vs placebo t.i.d.) were initiated 8 days before alcohol withdrawal and continued during the 15 days following alcohol withdrawal. Polysomnographic assessments were recorded during acute withdrawal (the first 2 nights following withdrawal) and during postwithdrawal abstinence (the last 2 nights of the trial).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results show that, compared with placebo, acamprosate decreased wake time after sleep onset and increased stage 3 and REM sleep latency (all treatment effects with a p < 0.05 significance). Withdrawal effects themselves were also demonstrated as sleep efficiency (p < 0.01) and total sleep time (p < 0.05) were lower in abstinence nights versus withdrawal nights, whereas no significant treatment x withdrawal effect could be evidenced. Acamprosate was well tolerated during the entire course of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study shows that acamprosate ameliorates both sleep continuity and sleep architecture parameters classically described as disturbed in alcohol-dependent patients. From a clinical perspective, it suggests that an 8-day acamprosate prewithdrawal treatment is well tolerated and can attenuate the sleep disturbances engendered by alcohol withdrawal in alcohol-dependent subjects.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Exploration des Rythmes Veille-Sommeil, FORENAP, Centre Hospitalier de Rouffach, Rouffach, France. luc.staner@forenap.com
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Staner
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boeijinga
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Danel
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gendre
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muzet
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Landron
authors.forename: Rémy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luthringer
mesh_terms: D000077443:Acamprosate; D000328:Adult; D000427:Alcohol Deterrents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003193:Compulsive Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004594:Electrophysiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000187:drug effects*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D013654:Taurine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000427:Alcohol Deterrents; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D013654:Taurine; D000431:Ethanol; D000077443:Acamprosate