Pregabalin in outpatient detoxification of subjects with mild‐to‐moderate alcohol withdrawal syndrome

TLDR

The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and practicality of pregabalin for outpatient detoxification of alcohol‑dependent patients with mild‑to‑moderate withdrawal syndrome. Forty DSM‑IV alcohol‑dependent patients received 200–450 mg pregabalin, with withdrawal, craving, psychiatric symptoms, and quality of life assessed via CIWA‑Ar, VAS, OCDS, SCL‑90‑R, and QL‑Index. Pregabalin significantly reduced withdrawal symptoms and craving (p < 0.001) and improved psychiatric symptoms and quality of life (p < 0.001), demonstrating efficacy and safety in this outpatient setting. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract

Abstract Objective In this open, prospective study we aimed to investigate the efficacy, medical safety and practicability of pregabalin in outpatient detoxification of alcohol‐dependent patients with mild‐to‐moderate alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). Craving reduction, improvement of psychiatric symptoms and quality of life were the secondary endpoints. Methods Forty alcohol dependent patients (DSM‐IV) were detoxified receiving 200–450 mg of pregabalin. Withdrawal (Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA‐Ar)) and craving (Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); Obsessive and Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS)) rating scales were applied; psychiatric symptoms and quality of life were evaluated using the Symptom Check List‐90 Revised (SCL‐90‐R) and the QL‐Index, respectively. Relapsed and abstinent patients in the post‐detoxification evaluation have been compared. Results Alcohol withdrawal symptoms and craving for alcohol resulted significantly reduced ( p &lt; 0.001) over time after pregabalin treatment. Pregabalin also resulted in a favourable improvement in psychiatric symptoms and quality of life ( p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first open, prospective study, about the possible use of pregabalin as an outpatient detoxification agent. These preliminary data show its efficacy and safety in the management of patients with mild‐to‐moderate AWS. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.