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Effect of Citalopram on Alcohol Intake in Heavy Drinkers
Author(s) -
Balldin Jan,
Berggren Ulf,
Engel Jorgen,
Eriksson Matts,
Hård Ernest,
Söderpalm Bo
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1994.tb00093.x
Subject(s) - citalopram , placebo , alcohol , abstinence , alcohol dependence , medicine , alcohol consumption , chemistry , serotonin , psychiatry , biochemistry , alternative medicine , receptor , pathology
The effect of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor citalopram (40 mg daily dose) on alcohol intake was investigated in a doubleblind, placebo‐controlled cross‐over study. Thirty men with heavy alcohol consumption (mean daily alcohol intake 111 ± 51 g pure alcohol) completed the study. After a 2‐week baseline period, subjects were randomly allocated to treatment with either citalopram or placebo for 5 weeks. In the total sample of heavy drinkers, no difference was found between citalopram and placebo treatment in alcohol consumption or days of abstinence. However, the response to citalopram was negatively correlated ( r a =–0.67, p < 0.01) with baseline levels of mean daily alcohol intake. Therefore, we divided the total sample into two subgroups with baseline mean daily alcohol intake above and below median (107 g pure alcohol), respectively. In the group with the higher baseline values (138 ± 25 g pure alcohol), citalopram was not different from placebo in reducing the daily alcohol intake, but in subjects with the lower baseline values (85 ± 15 g pure alcohol), citalopram was significantly ( p < 0.01) superior to placebo. Consequently, citalopram at the present dose appears capable of reducing alcohol intake only in a subgroup of heavy drinkers with a mean daily consumption of between 60 and 100 g pure alcohol.