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The Pharmacotherapy of Relapse Prevention Using Anticonvulsants
Author(s) -
Kosten Thomas R.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
the american journal on addictions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.997
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-0391
pISSN - 1055-0496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1521-0391.1998.tb00338.x
Subject(s) - pharmacotherapy , medicine , drug prevention , relapse prevention , psychotherapist , intensive care medicine , pharmacology , psychiatry , psychology , substance abuse
This review of anticonvulsants for relapse prevention in substance abusers focuses on a series of clinical trials among cocaine abusers. Based on a preclinical rationale linking kindling with drug craving, several studies by Halikas et al. found reductions in cocaine use and craving among “compliant” subjects with blood levels above 4 μ/ml. Three independent randomized trials found no difference from placebo in cocaine use, although treatment retention may be higher during the first 6 weeks, and alcohol use might be less at follow‐up after medication discontinuation.