Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · May 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialA pilot double-blind treatment trial of memantine for alcohol dependence.
There is growing evidence that N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists may have potential for the treatment of alcohol disorders. Memantine is a selective noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist that has been shown to decrease alcohol craving in moderate drinkers. This 16-week double-blind outpatient pilot clinical trial determined if memantine was more effective than placebo at reducing alcohol use in actively drinking alcohol-dependent patients. ⋯ The results of this double-blind placebo-controlled pilot trial do not support the use of memantine for the treatment of actively drinking alcohol-dependent patients. However, voucher incentives did facilitate retention.