Status:

COMPLETED

Efficacy and Safety of Levetiracetam in the Inpatient Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

Lead Sponsor:

Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Conditions:

Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

Eligibility:

All Genders

18-65 years

Phase:

PHASE3

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam for treating alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) in inpatients (vs. placebo). The primary come-out parameter is the redu...

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

  • Ages eligible for study: 18-65 years.
  • Meets criteria for alcohol dependence according to DSM-IV/ICD-10
  • Known withdrawal symptoms in the past in case of discontinuation of alcohol consumption
  • Hospital admission for alcohol detoxification
  • Able to provide a written informed consent.
  • Able to follow verbal and written instructions (incl. a sufficient knowledge of German language).
  • Must be medically acceptable for study treatment. No past or present physical disorder that is likely to deteriorate during participation. No ECG abnormality which would likely worsen during participation and no clinical laboratory abnormality that would also suggest deterioration during treatment.
  • Have a negative urine drug screen for benzodiazepines or heroine or methadone

Exclusion

  • Current diagnosis of any other substance dependence syndrome other than alcohol dependence (excluding nicotine and caffeine dependence).
  • History of idiopathic epilepsy.
  • Patient with any current clinically significant psychiatric disorder (acute suiciality) or developmental disorder (including organic mental disorder), like psychotic disorders.
  • Patients with the following complications of alcoholism (lifetime): acute delirium tremens, hallucinatory alcoholic state, Korsakoff's syndrome, Wernicke encephalopathy, decomposed liver cirrhosis (Child B, C), suspected cirrhosis with the following clinical symptoms detected at clinical exam: signs of portal hypertension and signs of hepato-cellular failure, thrombocytopenia.
  • Subjects with known sensitivity of previous adverse reaction to levetiracetam
  • Contra-indication (hypersensitivity to levetiracetam or pyrrolidone derivatives) or known non-response to levetiracetam.
  • History of severe GI disease which might render absorption of the medication difficult or produce medical instability of the patient which would include active peptic ulcer disease, ulcerative colitis, regional colitis, or evidence by history or physical exam of GI bleeding.
  • Patients with any clinically significant acute or chronic progressive neurological, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, haematological, endocrine, dermatological or respiratory disease, such as diabetes, severe infection, acute alcoholic hepatitis, or any other medical condition with significant worsening of the clinical situation of the patient that might interfere with the evaluation of study medication.
  • Female patients pregnant, breast-feeding or of child bearing age and not protected by effective contraceptive such as implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, some IUDS, sexual abstinence, sterilization or vasectomized partner.
  • Actually continuous use of pharmacological agents that are known to lower the seizure threshold or augment or decrease the alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
  • Subjects with known sensitivity of previous adverse reaction to diazepam or clonidine
  • Contra-indication or known non-response to diazepam or clonidine

Key Trial Info

Start Date :

January 1 2006

Trial Type :

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation :

ACTUAL

End Date :

September 1 2007

Estimated Enrollment :

120 Patients enrolled

Trial Details

Trial ID

NCT00146471

Start Date

January 1 2006

End Date

September 1 2007

Last Update

December 30 2009

Active Locations (5)

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Page 1 of 2 (5 locations)

1

MLU Halle-Wittenberg

Halle, Sachen/Anhalt, Germany, 06097

2

Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie

Berlin, State of Berlin, Germany, 10117

3

Psychiatrische Klinik der Charité im St.-Hedwig Krankenhaus

Berlin, State of Berlin, Germany, 10559

4

Klinik für Psychiatrie und Suchtmedizin, Kliniken Essen Mitte

Essen, Germany, 45136