REVIEW PAPER
Anticonvulsant drugs for alcohol-related disorders
1
5th year student, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University, Lublin, Poland
2
6th year student, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University, Lublin, Poland
3
Department of Histology, Embryology and Cytophysiology, Medical University, Lublin, Poland
Med Og Nauk Zdr. 2024;30(3):186-191
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction and objective:
This study was designed to review the literature in search of current anticonvulsants for the treatment of alcohol-related diseases. As an alternative to the currently applied medicaments, antiepileptic drugs have become the focus of research so that patients can achieve permanent abstinence or reduce the bothersome alcoholinduced symptoms.
Review methods:
The literature review was conducted using the PubMed and Google Scholar database. Publications from 2015–2024 were analyzed and the following keywords were used as search criteria: „alcohol use disorder,” „alcohol withdrawal syndrome,” „anticonvulsant drugs.”
Brief description of the state of knowledge:
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) can manifest itself as either a recurrent and violent desire to consume alcohol or chronic heavy drinking. While attempting to stop drinking, patients experience the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). Alcohol abuse can be clinically diagnosed on the basis of DSM-5 or ICD-11 criteria. The pathogenesis of AUD is connected with the increased amount of ethanol consumed, the excess of which leads to increased activity of GABAergic receptors and decreased activity of glutamatergic receptors. The AUDIT test was created to screen for problems with significant alcohol abuse, while the negative effects of alcohol withdrawal are assessed by the CIWA-AR protocol. Anticonvulsants are currently second-line drugs for the treatment of alcoholrelated disorders. The most promising study results have been observed with gabapentin and topiramate
Summary:
Currently, some benefits of administering antiepileptic drugs in alcohol-related diseases have been noted, but due to lack of sufficient research their routine use is not recommended. Anticonvulsants can be considered an option when the patient has comorbidities and when there are no contraindications to the drugs applied.
This study was designed to review the literature in search of current anticonvulsants for the treatment of alcohol-related diseases. As an alternative to the currently applied medicaments, antiepileptic drugs have become the focus of research so that patients can achieve permanent abstinence or reduce the bothersome alcoholinduced symptoms.
Review methods:
The literature review was conducted using the PubMed and Google Scholar database. Publications from 2015–2024 were analyzed and the following keywords were used as search criteria: „alcohol use disorder,” „alcohol withdrawal syndrome,” „anticonvulsant drugs.”
Brief description of the state of knowledge:
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) can manifest itself as either a recurrent and violent desire to consume alcohol or chronic heavy drinking. While attempting to stop drinking, patients experience the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). Alcohol abuse can be clinically diagnosed on the basis of DSM-5 or ICD-11 criteria. The pathogenesis of AUD is connected with the increased amount of ethanol consumed, the excess of which leads to increased activity of GABAergic receptors and decreased activity of glutamatergic receptors. The AUDIT test was created to screen for problems with significant alcohol abuse, while the negative effects of alcohol withdrawal are assessed by the CIWA-AR protocol. Anticonvulsants are currently second-line drugs for the treatment of alcoholrelated disorders. The most promising study results have been observed with gabapentin and topiramate
Summary:
Currently, some benefits of administering antiepileptic drugs in alcohol-related diseases have been noted, but due to lack of sufficient research their routine use is not recommended. Anticonvulsants can be considered an option when the patient has comorbidities and when there are no contraindications to the drugs applied.
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