Prazosin Alcohol Dependence IVR Study

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2007-10-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

This double-blind placebo controlled pilot trial will test the hypothesis that prazosin, an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist, reduced alcohol consumption and alcohol craving in alcohol dependent individuals without Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The intervention period is six weeks.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of Washington
• Collaborators: US Department of Veterans Affairs; VA Office of Research and Development
• Treatments: Prazosin

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• age 18 years of age or older

• current DSM-IV diagnosis of alcohol dependence with some use in last 30 days

• capacity to provide informed consent

• no planned absences during six week active treatment period that would prevent weekly check-in wiht the study psychiatrist

• English fluency

Exclusion Criteria:

• Score 50 or greater on the PTSD Check List which suggests a current diagnosis of PTSD

• Psychiatric disorder requiring any medication other than anti-depressants

• Current diagnosis of opiate dependence or abuse, chronic treatment with any opiate-containing medications during the previous month, or urine positive for opioids

• Significant acute or chronic medical illness, including unstable angina, recent myocardial infarction, history of congestive heart failure, preexisting hypotension (systolic lower than 110) or orthostatic hypotension (systolic drop greater than 20mmHg after two minutes standing or any drop with dizziness), insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; chronic renal or hepatic failure, pancreatitis, gout, Meniere's disease, benign positional vertigo, narcolepsy

• Concomitant use of trazodone, tadalafil or verdenafil

• History of prazosin-sensitivity

• Women who are pregnant, nursing infant(s), or of childbearing potential and not using a contraceptive method judged by the investigator to be effective

• Signs or symptoms of alcohol withdrawal at the time of randomization