Alcoholism-treatment medication acamprosate may help abstinent alcoholics sl...( tc. These often protracted symptoms le...),Health

"These sleep problems among abstinent alcoholics construe a critical issue, as they can remain for up to three years," added Timothy A. Roehrs, director of research at the Sleep Disorders and Research Center at Henry Ford Hospital, as well as professor of psychiatry and neurobehavioral sciences at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit. "This would be the first study of its kind to show positive effects of acamprosate on sleep disorders."

The seemingly greater popularity of acamprosate in Europe, noted Staner, is probably due to the fact that the drug was approved by many European countries in the early 1990s, long before naltrexone (another alcoholism-treatment medication). "The drug is very safe to use and there is no cross-tolerance with alcohol," he said.

Study participants (n=24 males) were recruited through physician referral or a local hospital outpatient department; all were confirmed as alcohol dependent according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition. Beginning eight days before alcohol withdrawal, in order to reach steady levels in patient plasma, and continuing for 15 days following withdrawal, researchers administered either acamprosate (two tablets of 333 mg) or a placebo. Polysomnographic assessments were recorded during acute withdrawal (the first two nights following withdrawal), as well as during post-withdrawal abstinence (the last two nights of the study period).

"Compared to the placebo," said Staner, "results indicate that acamprosate objectively improves sleep disturbances of alcohol-dependent patients who are trying to stop alcohol intake. This effect was observed during the first withdrawal night
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27-Aug-2006