Venlafaxine extended release and alcohol dependence

Authors

  • David Cáceres Anillo Director Médico. Unidad de desintoxicación Hogar Renacer de Córdoba. Enviar correspondencia a: David Cáceres Anillo. Unidad de desintoxicación Hogar Renacer de Córdoba, C/ Juan Felipe de Vilela nº18. Córdoba.
  • Ana Rodriguez Yuste Psicóloga. Unidad de desintoxicación Hogar Renacer de Córdoba.
  • Carlos Morillo Velarde Psiquiatra. Unidad de desintoxicación Hogar Renacer de Córdoba.
  • Mª Victoria Cabrera Gisbert Médico. Unidad de desintoxicación Hogar Renacer de Córdoba.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20882/adicciones.311

Keywords:

Alcohol dependence, venlafaxine extended release, observational desintoxication

Abstract

Objectives: The aim is to determine the effect of the treatment with venlafaxine extended release in patients with alcohol or cocaine dependence disorder that initiate detoxification treatment. Methods: Observational, open, prospective study carried out in Spain in 2005. 55 patients older than 18 years of age with diagnosis of alcohol and/or cocaine dependence disorder, hospitalized in Specialty Care Center to initiate detoxification treatment, were included. Daily doses of 75 to 225 mg of venlafaxine extended release were administered for 6 months. Results: Treatment was associated with significant reductions in EuropASI scores in the following areas: 3, alcohol use, baseline and final score of 8.2±0.2 and 6.4±0.4, respectively (P < 0.01); 5, family/social relations, initial score of 6.9±0.2 and of 5.2±0.5 at endpoint (P < 0.001); 1, medical status, scores of 3.7±0.4 and 0.9±0.3 (baseline and final visits, respectively) (P < 0.001); and 6, psychiatric status, with a baseline score of 7.8±0.1 and final score of 5.4±0.4 (P < 0.001). The VAS alcohol craving scores at baseline were 26.7±4.6, decreasing to 4.1±1.5 at endpoint (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The results of this observational study suggest that venlafaxine extended release could be effective as a coadyuvant in the treatment of alcohol dependent patients in alcohol detoxification therapy. Nevertheless, this should be confirmed with bigger placebo-controlled samples.

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Published

2007-06-01

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 2 (2007)

Section

Originals