Efficacy of Baclofen in the Treatment of Alcohol Addiction

Catholic University of the Sacred Heart86 enrolled

Overview

Intervention to achieve alcohol abstinence represents the most effective treatment for alcoholic patients with liver cirrhosis. However no trials have evaluated the efficacy of anti-craving drugs in these patients because of the concern that these medications might worsen liver disease. Baclofen is effective to reduce alcohol craving improving abstinence in alcohol-dependent patients. It is mainly eliminated by kidney. No hepatic side-effects have been reported in treated patients. The present study investigates the efficacy and safety of baclofen in achieving and maintaining abstinence in alcoholic cirrhotic patients.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 75 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * age ranging from 18 to 75 years * diagnosis of alcohol dependence according to DSM IV criteria * diagnosis of liver cirrhosis * alcohol intake of at least 2 heavy drinking days (men \> 5 drinks/days; women \> 4 drinks/day) per week, on average and an average overall consumption of 21 drinks/week or more for men and 14 drinks/week or more for women during the 4 weeks prior to enrolment * presence of a referred family member Exclusion Criteria: * severe heart or lung disease * kidney alterations and/or hepato-renal syndrome * tumours, including hepatocellular carcinoma * metabolic diseases, including diabetes * clinical signs of hepatic encephalopathy * patients treated with interferon or corticosteroids within the last 60 days * psychopathological illness undergoing treatment with psychoactive drugs * epilepsy or epileptiform convulsions * addiction to drugs other than nicotine

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Total alcohol abstinence; cumulative abstinence duration

Time frame: 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Obsessive and Compulsive craving

Time frame: 12 weeks