A recent study published in the journal Drug and reports of alcohol dependence that topiramate drug can help people struggling with addiction to cocaine. Specifically, the study showed that people who suffer from cocaine and alcohol addiction can be more successful in the treatment and cocaine use less if prescribed topiramate.topiramate alcohol These results are consistent with earlier studies largely separate also show the potential utility of topiramate in the treatment of cocaine and alcohol addiction. However, this latest study is the first to examine the effectiveness of medication for people with two units at a time.topiramate alcohol
What is Topiramate ?
Topiramate is an anticonvulsant drug that was discovered in 1979 .topiramate alcohol It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA ) in 1996 and was used primarily to treat seizures in epileptic patients .alcohol topiramate Topiramate was also frequently prescribed to prevent migraines. In 2012, the FDA also approved topiramate for use as a weight loss drug phentermine in combination with medication.topiramate alcohol
Topiramate weight loss drug help curb cocaine Alcohol, Penn FindsOne The effects of topiramate is an increase in the amount of gamma -aminobutyric acid or GABA in the brain.topiramate alcohol This substance is a neuro - inhibitor , and researchers now hope that the use of topiramate to increase GABA levels can help limit dopamine release that occurs when people take cocaine or alcohol. This would reduce the feeling of euphoria that are derivatives of these substances, and make it easier for people to resist and fight against drug cravings .topiramate alcohol
Details of the new study
alcohol topiramate Researchers in the Department of Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have created and published a new study topiramate.topiramate alcohol These researchers were assisted by Charles O'Brien Center for Addiction Treatment .
The study was conducted over 13 weeks ,topiramate alcohol with the participation of 170 people who lived cocaine and alcohol addiction . Most study participants were African -American men , and participants had a mean age of 45 years.topiramate alcohol
Some patients were treated with topiramate ,topiramate alcohol while others received a placebo . The study used a double-blind startup ,alcohol topiramate in which neither the patients nor the researchers knew who was taking the drug compared to placebo . This allowed the researchers to examine the effectiveness of the drug in reducing anxiety ,topiramate alcohol reducing the overall consumption of cocaine and alcohol , and help patients to stay in treatment.topiramate alcohol
mixed results
alcohol topiramate At the end of the study, the researchers found both positive and neutral for the effectiveness of topiramate.topiramate alcohol Patients who received the drug were more likely to remain in treatment and less likely to use cocaine during the last three weeks of the trial than those receiving placebo. Twenty percent of participants in the topiramate can go without cocaine during the study, against only 7 percent of participants in the placebo group. Patients who had more severe withdrawal symptoms in the past seem to benefit more than topiramate.
However ,alcohol topiramate the drug was no better than placebo in reducing the craving for cocaine . In addition , the drug did not help patients reduce their alcohol consumption , although generally report reduced alcohol cravings .topiramate alcohol
alcohol topiramate These results were somewhat surprising ,topiramate alcohol because previous studies have shown that topiramate help people with alcohol dependence . Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine have speculated that these poor results may reflect the small number of drinkers who participated in the study.topiramate alcohol In previous studies , the average number of days of heavy drinking among study participants was much higher . It may be that topiramate is more effective for heavy drinkers .topiramate alcohol
What is the next step for topiramate ?
alcohol topiramate
Although topiramate studies have been promising, further research is needed to determine whether the drug can be a useful tool for anti -cocaine and long-term addiction to alcohol.alcohol topiramate The researchers plan further studies to determine whether topiramate is effective when combined with other drugs.topiramate alcohol By combining different drugs that have shown moderate success , the researchers hope to get even more impressive for a higher percentage of patients.
alcohol topiramate Ultimately , the larger studies will be required before the FDA can approve topiramate for additional treatment.alcohol topiramate
