Treatment Alcoholism Could One Day Fit Into A Pill
In today's world, it seems as if a pill exists to treat any type of ailment. There are pills for minor or minor headaches. There are pills to battle the symptoms of flues. There are even pills to help us fall asleep when warm glass of milk and counting sheep fail to work. However, have you ever wondered if a pill exists for treatment alcoholism? Experts are assessing a pill used to treat a different disease, which seems quite effective in treating people with a drinking problem.
A group of university researchers in Texas have learned that the drug topiramate, typically prescribed to patients with epilepsy, is extremely useful in aiding alcoholics in their quest to cease drinking. What were their findings? Heavy alcoholic drinkers were 6 times more liable to refrain from consuming alcohol for a month, after taking the medication. Even consuming a small quantity of the medicine produced the same results! Topiramate originates from an organic sugar, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has already approved the drug for patients who are the victims of seizures. Furthermore, studies have revealed that topiramate produces no long-term effects on patients. This makes the creation of treatment alcoholism in a pill-form, more feasible.
The researchers' trial study that could eventually result in treatment alcoholism included 150 patients who were all classified as heavy drinkers. The men were daily drinking over five alcoholic drinks, and the women were consuming over four drinks every day. All of the subjects in the trial study received either a dose of topiramate or a useless placebo drug. The researchers discovered that those who took the placebo actually were four times more prone to consume large amounts of alcohol, for 1 month during the trial study!
The primary study, which could ultimately help to create a treatment alcoholism pill, studied 100 alcoholics for three months. About half of the participants received topiramate, and the other half received the placebo. In addition, all of the study's participants were given counselling. The results were amazing: · Fifty percent of those who received topiramate desired alcohol less, while only 15% of those who took the placebo experienced the same result. · The study's topiramate group were almost 4 times less apt to drink in the final month of the study. · About one in four people in the topiramate group refrained from drinking alcohol for an entire month. However, a mere 4 percent of the placebo group drank no alcohol for a month. How May pills are currently sold for treatment alcoholism? Only two medicines are available, and their effectiveness is questionable. One only helps alcoholics who already have ceased drinking, while the other medication only makes the alcoholic feel ill after consuming alcohol. In contrast, topiramate is the first medicine that has been proven to be effectual for people who still consume alcohol. How does it work? When the chemical dopamine is discharged from the human brain, drinkers become thrilled. By removing the extra dopamine, drinking simply becomes less satisfying to the alcoholic. It seems today as if a pill exists for every possible health problem that one can have. Perhaps one day treatment alcoholism will also fit into the palm of your hand!
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