Efficacy and Tolerability of Baclofen for Alcohol Dependence

The study will explore the efficacy and tolerability of a 12-week regimen of 10 mg t.i.d. baclofen vs. placebo in conjunction with behavioral therapy for reducing heavy drinking in 80 alcohol dependent individuals. Prior studies (Addolorato et al. 2000, 2002; Flannery et al., 2004) have found that baclofen reduces self-reported anxiety and craving; therefore, the proposed study also will assess baclofen's ability to reduce symptoms of these affective states. Furthermore, in our pilot study (Flannery et al, 2004), women appeared to respond more consistently than men, and therefore the study will also be balanced by gender.

Inclusion criteria

• Men and women between the ages of 18 and 60 meeting DSM-IV criteria for current alcohol dependence.
• Must have had at least 2 heavy drinking days (men > 5 drinks/days; women > 4 drinks/day) per week, on average and an average overall consumption of 21 drinks/week or more for men and 14 drinks/week or more for women during the 4 weeks prior to screening.
• Able to understand and sign written informed consent.
• Must be willing to refrain from drinking for three days prior to randomization day.
• Express a desire to achieve abstinence or to greatly reduce alcohol consumption.
• Must have a stable residence and be able to identify an individual who could locate subject if needed.

Exclusion criteria

• Clinically significant medical disease that might interfere with the evaluation of the study medication or present a safety concern (e.g., cirrhosis, kidney impairment, unstable hypertension, hypotension, diabetes mellitus, seizure disorder).
• Clinically significant psychiatric illness including any psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, or severe depression; suicidal ideation; substance use disorder other than alcohol or nicotine dependence or cannabis abuse.
• History of complicated alcohol withdrawal, i.e. withdrawal seizure or delirium tremens.
• Concurrent use of any psychotropic medication including antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, stimulants, or hypnotics. However, subjects who have been on stable doses of the antidepressants fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine, citalopram, ecitalapram, trazodone or venlafaxine for two months will be eligible. Subjects who have been taking benzodiazepines for alcohol detoxification will be required to have a washout period of at least five half-lives (approximately 5 days) from those medications before being randomized.
• Concurrent use of anticonvulsants, insulin, or oral hypoglycemics.
• AST, or ALT > 3 times Upper Limit of Normal (ULN), or bilirubin > ULN, or creatinine > ULN.
• Positive urine toxicology screen with the exception of cannabis. Individuals with positive cannabis screens will be excluded only if they have a history of cannabis dependence.
• Pregnant women and women of childbearing potential who do not practice a medically acceptable form of birth control (oral or depot contraceptive, or barrier methods such as diaphragm or condom with spermicidal).
• Women who are breastfeeding.
• Individuals requiring inpatient treatment or more intense outpatient treatment for their alcohol dependence.
• Participation in any clinical trial within the last 60 days.
• Court-mandated participation in alcohol treatment or pending incarceration.