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Metronidazole in the Treatment of Alcohol Addiction A Controlled Trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

M. G. Gelder  and
Griffith Edwards
M. G. Gelder
Affiliation:
The Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals, and the Institute of Psychiatry, London, S.E.5
Griffith Edwards
Affiliation:
The Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals, and the Institute of Psychiatry, London, S.E.5
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Extract

Metronidazole (‘Flagyl’) has recently been said to be of value in treating alcoholism (Taylor, 1964). The drug is, of course, better known for its use against trichomoniasis. Three main claims have been made about it: (a) that it has an effect like disulfiram (Taylor, 1964; Bonfiglio and Donadio, 1966; Lehman, Ban and Nalchayan, 1966); (b) that it cuts short withdrawal symptoms (Lehman et al., 1966); (c) that it reduces craving and thereby allows return to normal drinking (Lehman, et al., 1966; Elosuo, 1966; Bonfiglio and Donadio, 1966). It is this last claim that is particularly important, since other well-tried preparations are in use for the first two purposes. We report a double-blind controlled trial directed to the possible disulfiram-like effects of the drug, and to its ability to reduce craving.

Type
Abstract
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 114 , Issue 509 , April 1968 , pp. 473 - 475
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1968 

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