Efficacy and Safety of Levetiracetam for Outpatient Alcohol Detoxification

Müller, Christian; Schäfer, Martin; Schneider, Serge; Heimann, Hannah; Hinzpeter, Axel; Volkmar, Katharina; Heinz, Andreas; Hein, Jakob

doi:10.1055/s-0030-1249098

Cited by 22 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…The few available data have shown that the treatment with LEV resulted in a rapid and stable clinical improvement of AWS. Its usefulness in AWS treatment still needs to be investigated 83, 84…”

Section: Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: mechanisms, manifestations, and management

et al. 2016

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The alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a well‐known condition occurring after intentional or unintentional abrupt cessation of heavy/constant drinking in patients suffering from alcohol use disorders (AUDs). AUDs are common in neurological departments with patients admitted for coma, epileptic seizures, dementia, polyneuropathy, and gait disturbances. Nonetheless, diagnosis and treatment are often delayed until dramatic symptoms occur. The purpose of this review is to increase the awareness of the early clinical manifestations of AWS and the appropriate identification and management of this important condition in a neurological setting.

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Section: Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: mechanisms, manifestations, and management

et al. 2016

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“…Treatment group, age, and number of previous detoxifications (the latter two have been identified as risk factors for alcohol relapse in previous studies) (Beck et al, 2012;Muller et al, 2010) were included into the regression analyses as risk factors. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95 % confidence intervals were determined.…”

Section: Sample Size Calculations and Statistical Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-dose baclofen for the treatment of alcohol dependence (BACLAD study): A randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Müller

Geisel

Pelz

et al. 2015

European Neuropsychopharmacology

157

118

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“…Our results suggest that LEV may have clinical utility in the treatment of alcohol use disorders by decreasing alcohol reward, by interfering with the development of neuroadaptations to chronic alcohol, or both. While results from open-label trials of LEV for maintenance of sobriety in alcohol-abusing patients were initially positive (Mariani and Levin, 2008;Sarid-Segal et al, 2008;Müller et al, 2010), recent double-blind placebocontrolled clinical trials have been less convincing (Fertig et al, 2012;Richter et al, 2012). However, the use of LEV as an add-on agent to other pharmacotherapy regimens has not been extensively explored (Müller et al, 2011), but may provide benefit for patients with alcohol abuse disorders.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Levetiracetam Has Opposite Effects on Alcohol- and Cocaine-Related Behaviors in C57BL/6J Mice

Robinson

Chen

Stamatakis

et al. 2013

Neuropsychopharmacol

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The antiepileptic drug levetiracetam (LEV) is a potential treatment for alcohol use disorders, yet few preclinical studies exist on its effects in animal models relevant to drug or alcohol abuse. We investigated the effects of LEV on locomotor stimulation following acute and repeated administration of alcohol or cocaine and on alcohol-and cocaine-mediated changes in responding for brain stimulation reward (BSR) in C57BL/6J mice. LEV alone (10.0-100.0 mg/kg intraperitoneally) had no significant effect on locomotor activity or intracranial selfstimulation. Pretreatment with LEV reduced acute locomotor stimulation by 2.0 g/kg alcohol, attenuated the development of locomotor sensitization to alcohol with repeated exposure, and produced a shift in the dose-response curve for alcohol on BSR threshold without affecting maximum operant response rate (MAX). Conversely, LEV pretreatment enhanced both acute locomotor stimulation by 15 mg/ kg cocaine and development of locomotor sensitization following repeated exposure and produced a leftward shift in the dose-response curve for cocaine on BSR threshold without affecting MAX. Electrophysiological recordings in vitro showed that LEV reduced excitatory currents in both ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons and nucleus accumbens (NAc) medium spiny neurons, consistent with a presynaptic effect. The opposite effects of LEV pretreatment on alcohol-and cocaine-related behaviors may predict its clinical utility in the treatment of patients with alcohol, but not psychostimulant abuse disorders.

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Efficacy and Safety of Levetiracetam for Outpatient Alcohol Detoxification

Abstract: The findings of this study provide some evidence that levetiracetam is an efficacious and safe treatment option for outpatient alcohol detoxification. Further randomised, controlled trials including mid- and long-term follow-ups are needed to confirm these findings.

Cited by 22 publications

References 28 publications

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: mechanisms, manifestations, and management

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: mechanisms, manifestations, and management

High-dose baclofen for the treatment of alcohol dependence (BACLAD study): A randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Levetiracetam Has Opposite Effects on Alcohol- and Cocaine-Related Behaviors in C57BL/6J Mice

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