About Us  |  Contact Us  |  Feedback  |  Portfolio  |  Press  |  Advertise  |  Careers  |  Sitemap 
Medindia
   
   Google Search   Advanced Search
Web Medindia   
Health News RSSHealth news
Disease News RSSDisease News
SubscribeSubscribe
Login
Password
Forgot Password   New User
Medindia On MobileMedindia On Mobile Buy Health ProductsBuy Health Products
Medindia » Latest Health News » Epilepsy Drug Helps Alcoholics to Overcome Insomnia, Cravings
Latest Headlines
'Mouse' Turns 40 Today! (5 hrs ago)
Pregnant Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus on the Rise (6 hrs ago)
Chemical In Paint Could Promote Obesity: Study (6 hrs ago)
'Nayana' - A Unique Mobile Eye Care Initiative For Diabetics (6 hrs ago)
New Method That Helps Reduce Breast-lesion Biopsies Developed (6 hrs ago)
'Doctor At Your Doorstep' Becomes A Reality In Chunampet (7 hrs ago)
Antibiotics Blamed For Drug-induced Liver Injury (7 hrs ago)
All Latest News
News - Quick Links
News Central
Latest Health News
News Category
Popular News
Health News and Press Release
Special Reports
Health Watch
Health In Focus
Breaking Health News
Celebrating Life
Medindia - Exclusive
India Special
Lifestyle and Wellness
Popular News Topics
Drug News    Subscribe
Posted online: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 at 3:46:59 PM
Font Size

Epilepsy Drug Helps Alcoholics to Overcome Insomnia, Cravings

University of Michigan researchers have found that an epilepsy drug might reduce insomnia, and help alcoholics become sober again.



Alcoholics are highly likely to suffer from chronic insomnia that keeps them from getting enough night sleep, and the condition reduces of recovering from alcohol dependence.

The researchers have found that epilepsy drug, gabapentin, can reduce insomnia in recovering alcoholics, and help them stay away from alcohol more successfully.

The team conducted a randomised, placebo-controlled trial on 21 insomniacs, and found that 30 percent of the patients who received gabapentin during alcohol recovery relapsed to drinking, compared with 80 percent of those who received a placebo.

"We showed that the patients who got the real drug, rather than placebo, were less likely to relapse to drinking -- or if they relapsed it was later," said lead author Dr Kirk Brower, FASAM, the executive director of U-M Addiction Treatment Services and a professor of psychiatry at the U-M Medical School.

"In other words, gabapentin prevented and delayed relapse. Meanwhile, patients reported sleeping better in both the treatment and placebo groups, which may be due to the gabapentin in the first group and the resumption of drinking in the other," he added.

Co-author Dr. Flavia Consens, an associate professor of neurology and member of the U-M Sleep Disorders Centre said that as many as 70 percent of people with alcohol problems suffer insomnia, while others cope with other sleep disturbances including breathing problems known as sleep apnea.
Page 1 Page 1 | 2  Next

 Related Links
 
 Share this News with:
Digg It
Digg
Del.icio.us
Del.icio.us
Stumbleupon
StumbleUpon
Google
Google
Windows Live
Windows Live
NewsVine
Newsvine
Reddit
Reddit
Post Your Comments
Be the first to comment
* Name
   (For display)
* Email
* Your Email address will not be displayed on the site or used to send unsolicited e-mails.
* Comment
* Your comment can be maximum of 2500 characters
           

Please keep your comments short, relevant and to the point
Do not use objectionable language
Do not provide personal information in the comments
Drug Related News
Antibiotics Blamed For Drug-induced Liver Injury
Nifedipine Shows No Benefit in Preventing Pre-mature Birth
Dutch Court Rejects Bid Against 'Magic Mushroom' Ban
Experimental Drug Shows Promise Against Latent TB Bacteria
New Class of Cholesterol-lowering Drugs Developed
Read More

Resources Epilepsy - Complete Medindia Resources
 News Archive

 Search by Keyword


Web Medindia  Advanced Search
Feedback
Last Updated - - Designed & Content Managed by Medindia Health Network Pvt Ltd. Hosted & Technical Support by FrontPoint Systems
DisclaimerThe contents of this site are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician for any doubts.
To Read full Disclaimer Click Here!
Best viewed with resolution 1024x768 px.
Advertise with us |  Medindia Copyright |  Privacy Policy |  © All Rights Reserved 1997 - 2008