Study of Acamprosate for Alcohol Dependence in a Family Medicine Clinic

This is a study of a medication, Campral or Acamprosate, which is an FDA approved medication for alcohol problems. We will be examining whether Campral compared to a sugar pill (placebo) is more effective for helping with drinking in a Family Medicine clinic.

Condition	Intervention	Phase
Alcohol Dependence	Drug: Acamprosate	Phase IV

Further study details as provided by University of North Carolina:

Primary Outcomes: Percent days abstinent from pre-treatment to in or post treatment; Adherence to medicine; Drop-out/loss to follow-up rate
Secondary Outcomes: Percent days complete abstinent; Percent heavy drinking days; Clinical Global Impression
Expected Total Enrollment:  50

Acamprosate has been shown to reduce drinking days in alcohol dependent patients and promote abstinence, with few reported side effects. A limitation of these studies, however, has been their lack of generalizability due to restrictive inclusion and exclusion criteria. Furthermore, most of the previous studies of acamprosate have been conducted in Europe, in a different treatment setting from the typical American Family Medicine center, where alcohol dependent patients are most likely to be first identified in the U.S.

The present study is designed to determine the efficacy of acamprosate for alcohol dependence in a Family Medicine setting using minimal psychotherapeutic interventions—as would also likely occur in a primary care setting. The study will be a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial comparing 666 mg acamprosate t.i.d. to placebo in patients at the UNC Family Medicine Center with alcohol dependence. Subjects will be seen by Family Medicine physicians and receive brief motivational interventions. Primary efficacy will be determined by measuring % days abstinent and secondary outcomes include rates of complete abstinence, % heavy drinking days, CGI and GGT in the acamprosate group compared to the placebo group.

Ages Eligible for Study:  21 Years   -   65 Years,  Genders Eligible for Study:  Both

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Men and women ages 21 to 65 years with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence.
2. History of at least 2 heavy drinking days (men > 5 drinks/day; women > 4 drinks/day) per week, on average, during the month prior to screening.
3. Ability to understand and sign written informed consent.
4. Willingness to refrain from drinking for at least three days prior to randomization.
5. Willingness to consider a goal of abstinence or a significant reduction in drinking as an objective.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Clinically significant medical disease that might interfere with the evaluation of the study medication or present a safety concern.
2. Clinically significant psychiatric disease, e.g. bipolar disorder, psychosis, that might interfere with study participation or present a safety concern. [Subjects with depression or an anxiety disorder who are receiving medication and are clinically stable for at least one month will not be excluded.]
3. Suicidal ideation or behavior, history of suicide attempt.
4. Renal Impairment; estimated creatinine clearance <50 ml/min.
5. Substance use disorder other than alcohol or nicotine dependence or cannabis abuse.
6. Pregnant or breastfeeding women and women of childbearing potential who do not practice a medically acceptable form of birth control (oral or depot contraceptive, or barrier methods such as diaphragm or condom with spermicidal).
7. Individuals requiring inpatient treatment or more intense outpatient treatment for their alcohol dependence. Individuals may be considered for the trial upon completion of medical detoxification.

Please refer to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov identifier  NCT00381043

Amy Ford, MA      919-966-5239    aford@med.unc.edu
Linda Kalka-Juhl, CMA      919-966-5770    lkjuhl@med.unc.edu

North Carolina
      UNC Family Medicine Center, Chapel Hill,  North Carolina,  27599,  United States; Recruiting

Study chairs or principal investigators

JC Garbutt, MD,  Principal Investigator,  University of North Carolina   

Study ID Numbers:  CMP-MD-06
Last Updated:  September 26, 2006
Record first received:  September 26, 2006
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00381043
Health Authority: United States: Institutional Review Board

 

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