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Open Access Research

A follow up study on the efficacy of metadoxine in the treatment of alcohol dependence

Irene Guerrini1,2*, Claudio Gentili3, Gloria Nelli3 and Mario Guazzelli3

Author Affiliations

1 Bexley Substance Misuse Service, South London and Mausdley NHS Trust, London, UK

2 Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Windeyer Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Mental Health Sciences, Royal Free and University College London, London Medical School, 46 Cleveland Street, London W1T 4JF ,UK

3 Department of Psychiatry, Neurobiology, Pharmacology and Biotechnologies, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56124 Pisa, Italy

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Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 2006, 1:35 doi:10.1186/1747-597X-1-35

Published: 18 December 2006

Abstract

Background

We carried out a three months follow-up study on the efficacy of metadoxine in a cohort of alcoholics admitted to the Alcohol misuse Long-term Treatment (ALT) Unit – University of Pisa (Italy). We analyzed the clinical data, psychometric tests and blood tests of 160 alcoholics on admission and after 3 months of treatment. We compared 58 pts treated with metadoxine (MET) with 102 pts who did not receive (NULL) any drug as an adjunct to the psycho-educational interventions provided by the ALT Unit.

Results

At follow-up, the patients in treatment with metadoxine showed a significant improvement in the rate of complete abstinence (44.8% vs. 21.6%; chi square: 8.45, df = 1, p < 0.0037). Furthermore, the number of drop-outs at three months of treatment was also significantly lower in the MET than in the NULL group (17% vs. 57%; chi square of 23.22, df = 1, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our findings support the use of metadoxine in the management of alcohol dependence. However, randomized clinical trials are necessary to confirm and replicate them. This study raises the importance of identifying new pharmacological compounds effective on the outcome of alcoholism in order to help patients to best adhere to treatment programs and to prevent the development of mental and physical complications due to chronic and heavy use of alcohol.