Treatment of alcohol withdrawal with gabapentin

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2002 Jan;26(1):197-9. doi: 10.1016/s0278-5846(01)00234-2.

Abstract

Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant agent, also effective in the treatment of mood disorders and anxiety disorders. Three cases of alcohol withdrawal treated with gabapentin are presented. All patients received gabapentin 400 mg tid for 3 days, 400 mg bid for 1 day, and finally 400 mg for 1 day. Withdrawal symptoms subsided and no adverse effects were observed. The possible effectiveness of gabapentin in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal warrants further investigation by systematic and well-designed studies.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acetates / therapeutic use*
  • Adult
  • Amines*
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids*
  • Ethanol / adverse effects*
  • Gabapentin
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mood Disorders / drug therapy
  • Mood Disorders / etiology
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid*

Substances

  • Acetates
  • Amines
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids
  • Ethanol
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Gabapentin