title: Pregabalin in outpatient detoxification of subjects with mild-to-moderate alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this open, prospective study we aimed to investigate the efficacy, medical safety and practicability of pregabalin in outpatient detoxification of alcohol-dependent patients with mild-to-moderate alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). Craving reduction, improvement of psychiatric symptoms and quality of life were the secondary endpoints.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty alcohol dependent patients (DSM-IV) were detoxified receiving 200-450 mg of pregabalin. Withdrawal (Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA-Ar)) and craving (Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); Obsessive and Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS)) rating scales were applied; psychiatric symptoms and quality of life were evaluated using the Symptom Check List-90 Revised (SCL-90-R) and the QL-Index, respectively. Relapsed and abstinent patients in the post-detoxification evaluation have been compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alcohol withdrawal symptoms and craving for alcohol resulted significantly reduced (p < 0.001) over time after pregabalin treatment. Pregabalin also resulted in a favourable improvement in psychiatric symptoms and quality of life (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this is the first open, prospective study, about the possible use of pregabalin as an outpatient detoxification agent. These preliminary data show its efficacy and safety in the management of patients with mild-to-moderate AWS.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Catholic University Medical School, Rome, Italy. mdnicola@libero.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Nicola
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinotti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tedeschi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frustaci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarchiapone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pozzi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bria
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Janiri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069583:Pregabalin; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid