The use of sodium valproate in the treatment of alcoholism.

Abstract

It has been suggested that decreased central GABAergic activity may play a role in the pathogenesis of alcoholism. Sodium valproate is a commercially available anticonvulsant that increases central GABAergic activity. In this pilot study 13 adult male alcoholics received one month of oral, low dose sodium valproate (15 mg/kg/d) followed by one month of placebo followed by one month of sodium valproate at the standard anticonvulsant dosage (45 mg/kg/d). The principle objective of the study was to determine if sodium valproate is well tolerated and free of adverse effects in this high risk group. Anxiety levels and the desire to drink alcohol were also monitored throughout the study period. The results of the study revealed that low dose sodium valproate therapy is well tolerated and free of toxicity. While anxiety levels tended to fall or remained unchanged in the seven patients who completed four weeks of low dose treatment, there was no consistent change in their desire to drink values. Too few patients completed the trial to ascertain the safety or efficacy of standard dose sodium valproate. These findings suggest that controlled clinical trials of sodium valproate are feasible in adult male alcoholics.