Overview

Alcohol Detoxification in Primary Care Treatment (ADEPT)

Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2010-11-01
Target enrollment:
0
Participant gender:
All
Summary
Once someone becomes dependent on alcohol (alcoholic), the risks of complications from alcohol withdrawal when they stop drinking grow. These can include a life-threatening fit or delirium tremens (see things, become frightened). To prevent such complications, people take medication such as benzodiazepines (e.g., valium or librium) in reducing doses for about a week; this is called detoxification or 'detox.' In the UK effective alcohol treatment exists but little is known about what is the best detox medication. Alternative drugs to benzodiazepines appear to protect the brain from the toxicity of alcohol withdrawal and to reduce the likelihood of drinking again. This study will examine the feasibility of comparing medication regimens for alcohol detox for the first time in primary care. It will include a standard detox regimen (librium over 8 days) alone and together with a drug, acamprosate, that has been shown to reduce toxicity of alcohol withdrawal in preclinical models and is used after detox to help people remain sober. It will focus on the practicalities of doing such a study as well as assessing how people feel (withdrawal symptoms) and do (drinking during first month).
Phase:
Phase 4
Accepts Healthy Volunteers?
No
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University of Bristol
Treatments:
Acamprosate
Ethanol
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

- Anyone (18-65 years old) consulting their GP for whom a community based alcohol detox
requiring medication is appropriate.

- Due to acamprosate's license for maintaining abstinence, nobody under the age of 18
and over 65 will be recruited.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Unsuitable for home/community detox, e.g., with current or significant history of:

- delirium tremens or seizures

- current or history of high dose polydrug use

- significant medical or psychiatric ill health

- pregnant or breast feeding

- Wernicke's encephalopathy