THE USE OF SODIUM VALPROATE IN THE TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLISM

Ii has been suggested that decreased central GABAergic activity may pl ay a role in the pathogenesis of alcoholism. Sodium valproate is a com mercially available anticonvulsant that increases central GABAergic ac tivity. In this pilot study 13 adult male alcoholics received one mont h of oral, low dose sodium valproate (15 mg/kg/d) followed by one mont h of placebo followed by one month of sodium valproate at the standard anticonvulsant dosage (45 mg/kg/d). The principle objective of the st udy was to determine if sodium valproate is well tolerated and free of adverse effects in this high risk group. Anxiety levels and the desir e to drink alcohol were also monitored throughout the study period. Th e results of the study revealed that low dose sodium valproate therapy is well tolerated and free of toxicity. While anxiety levels tended t o fall or remained unchanged in the seven patients who completed four weeks of low dose treatment, there was no consistent change in their d esire to drink values. Too few patients completed the trial to ascerta in the safety or efficacy of standard dose sodium valproate. These fin dings suggest that controlled clinical trials of sodium valproate are feasible in adult male alcoholics.