Pregabalin in the treatment of alcohol and benzodiazepines dependence.
We review all available studies on the use of the newer anticonvulsant drug pregabalin (PGB) in the treatment of both alcohol dependence (AD) and benzodiazepine dependence (BD). In AD, the available evidence includes one open-label and one double-blind randomized studies, whereas in BD, only a few case reports and one open-label study are as yet available. In both conditions, PGB was found efficacious with significant improvement in withdrawal symptoms at the dosage ranges of 150-450 mg/day (AD) and 225-900 mg/day (BD). Moreover, its side effects were mild and transient. Despite the limited quality of the studies design, their findings suggest that PGB might constitute a novel efficacious and safe option in the treatment of both AD and BD.
Oulis
Panagiotis
P
First Department of Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Eginition Hospital, Vas. Sofias av. 72-74, 11528 Athens, Greece. oulisp@med.uoa.gr
Konstantakopoulos
George
G
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D006801:Humans; D000069583:Pregabalin; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid