Prometa Protocol for Alcohol Dependence

Approximately 60 alcohol dependent individuals who are drinking heavily up until 72 hours, or less, prior to study participation will be randomized to receive either flumazenil (intravenously)on two successive days and gabapentin (orally)for 39 days or their matching placebos. They also will receive hydroxyzine and vitamins. Individuals will be evaluated for alcohol withdrawal, their response to acoustic startle, cognitive ability, craving, mood, sleep and drinking during the first week. They will then be seen weekly for about 6 weeks during which they take gabapentin or placebo and are provided with Combined Behavioral Intervention Therapy (counseling) once a week, or more, as required. Over this period they will be evaluated weekly for alcohol consumption, craving, sleep, mood, and biological markers of alcohol consumption ( percent carbohydrate deficient transferrin and gamma-glutamyl transferase). Blood will be obtained on week 3 and 6 for general health (liver, blood count etc.) screening. After the end of treatment, subjects will be followed-up at 4 weeks and again at 8 weeks after treatment to evaluate alcohol consumption, craving, sleep, mood.

Subjects will undergo a functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure sometime during the second or third week of study medication to assess cue induced regional brain activation to investigate the effect of medication on brain response to alcohol visual cues.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18 - 70.
• Participants will meet criteria for primary DSM IV alcohol dependence, drink on at least 70% of days in the last 30 days prior to assessment, and drink at least 5 drinks per drinking day.
• No more than 72 hours since last drink of alcohol. Rationale: to focus on symptoms occurring during the early alcohol cessation period.
• Low CIWA-Ar group: have a CIWA-Ar score less than or equal to 6; High CIWA-Ar group: have a CIWA-Ar score greater than or equal to 7 but less than or equal to 15.
• Able to read and understand questionnaires and informed consent.
• Has stable housing for past 3 months.

Exclusion criteria

• Currently meets DSM-IV criteria for any other psychoactive substance dependence disorder except nicotine dependence.
• Any psychoactive substance abuse, except marijuana and nicotine, within the last 30 days as evidenced by subject report or urine drug screen.
• Meets DSM-IV criteria for current axis I disorders of major depression, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress syndrome, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, or any other psychotic disorder or organic mental disorder. The rationale for excluding them is that symptoms from these disorders may affect dependent variables and complicate interpretation of the data.
• No use of benzodiazepines in excess of three times in the past two weeks by self report and urine drug screen.
• Subjects must not be taking zolpidem (Ambien™), zaleplon (Sonata™), or eszopiclone (Lunesta™) in excess of three times in past two weeks.
• No history of delirium tremens or alcohol withdrawal seizures.
• Has current suicidal ideation with plan or homicidal ideation.
• Need for maintenance or acute treatment with any psychoactive medication including antiseizure medications.
• Use of disulfiram, naltrexone, acamprosate, or anticonvulsants in last 30 days.
• Clinically significant medical problems such as cardiovascular, renal, GI, or endocrine problem that would impair participation or limit medication ingestion.
• Sexually active females of child-bearing potential who are pregnant (by -beta HCG), nursing, or who are not using a reliable form of birth control.
• Has current charges pending for a violent crime (not including DUI related offenses).
• Has taken gabapentin or flumazenil in the last month or has experienced adverse effects from it at any time in the past.
• Hepatocellular disease indicated by elevations of SGPT (ALT) and SGOT (AST) greater than 3 times normal at screening.
• Persons with metal implants or pacemaker since fMRI will be used.