The primary aim of the current study is to assess the effect of a single dose of carbidopa-levodopa on ad libitum alcohol consumption and alcohol craving in young adults with a history of binge drinking.
This is a small (N = 42) 2-arm, double-blind, randomized controlled pilot study to assess the effect of a single dose of immediate release carbidopa-levodopa (50mg/500mg) to acutely reduce alcohol consumption and craving in college students with a history of heavy episodic drinking. Participants will be between 21-24 years old from 2- and 4- year colleges in the Seattle Metropolitan area. Interested students will contact the study line and provide verbal consent to be sent a link to an online screening survey. Eligible participants will be scheduled to come in for the ad libitum alcohol administration. Participants will receive either the carbidopa-levodopa or a placebo and complete the alcohol administration protocol.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Participants who are randomized to active drug group will receive 1 dose of immediate release carbidopa-levodopa (50mg/500mg) .
Participants who are randomized to placebo group will be provided with similar looking tablet(s) as the active drug.
Alcohol Consumption
Number of alcoholic drinks consumed
Time frame: 1 hour
Alcohol Craving
Amount of alcohol craving as assessed by the Alcohol Urge Questionnaire by Bohn, Krahn \& Staehler (1995)
Time frame: 30 minutes in to alcohol administration
Alcohol craving
Amount of alcohol craving as assessed by the Alcohol Urge Questionnaire by Bohn, Krahn \& Staehler (1995)
Time frame: At the end of alcohol administration. Alcohol administration is 1 hour.
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