This is a placebo controlled trial (some people receive active and some people receive
inactive medication) to evaluate the effectiveness of a new protocol to treat alcohol
dependence. Two main medications (plus ancillary non-placebo controlled medications) and
their placebos (inactive drugs) will be utilized to treat both alcohol withdrawal, promote
abstinence, and reduce drinking over approximately a six-week treatment period. All
participants will meet criteria for Alcohol Dependence and be drinking heavily up until 72
hours prior to receiving the first study drug. They will be injected one drug (flumazenil or
placebo) over a two day period and receive the second one (gabapentin or placebo) by mouth
for 39 days. The main hypothesis is that this protocol will reduce early alcohol withdrawal
symptoms and will reduce relapse to drinking and promote abstinence compared to the placebo
(inactive) drug group. Secondary outcomes that will be evaluated include reduction in
craving, improvement in sleep, brain activity and mood.