Levetiracetam for the treatment of co-occurring alcohol dependence and anxiety: case series and review.
OBJECTIVE
Alcohol dependence is frequently associated with anxiety disorders. The exact nature of the relationship between alcohol dependence and anxiety disorders is unknown, but emerging evidence suggests that in a majority of cases, the anxiety disorder is independent of the alcohol use disorder. There is pre-clinical and clinical evidence that levetiracetam, a newer generation anticonvulsant medication, may be efficacious in the treatment of co-occurring alcohol use and anxiety disorders.


METHODS
In an open label clinical trial, three patients with alcohol dependence and a co-morbid anxiety disorder were treated with levetiracetam in doses up to 1500 mg twice daily for up to 8 weeks.


RESULTS
All three participants reported reductions in alcohol consumption and anxiety symptoms during the study period. Levetiracetam was generally well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that levetiracetam deserves further study in the treatment of alcohol dependence and co-occurring anxiety disorders.
Division on Substance Abuse, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York 10032, USA. jm2330@columbia.edu
John J
JJ
Mariani
Frances R
FR
Levin
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000188:drug therapy; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010889:Piracetam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
D018697:Nootropic Agents; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam