Family History Study of Alcohol Consumption Using Memantine

Yale University

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Alcohol Drinking

Treatments: Drug: memantine; Drug: Placebo; Drug: Memantine

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT00630955

P50AA012870 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

0602001068

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of the study medication, memantine (placebo, 20 mg or 40 mg/day) on alcohol drinking behavior in a laboratory setting in which participants are given an initial drink of alcohol followed by the choice to drink up to 12 more drinks over a three-hour period. We hypothesize that memantine will reduce craving and number of drinks consumed prior to and after exposure to the initial drink of alcohol and during the three hour drinking period. We will also evaluate the influence of family history of alcoholism on the efficacy of memantine in reducing alcohol drinking behavior.

Enrollment: 111 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21 to 50 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Ages 21-50
• Able to read English at 6th grade level or higher and to complete study evaluations
• Regular alcohol drinker

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals who are seeking alcohol treatment
• Medical conditions that would contraindicate the use of memantine
• Regular use of other substances

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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111 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

1

Experimental group

Description:

20 mg memantine

Treatment:

Drug: memantine

2

Experimental group

Description:

40 mg memantine

Treatment:

Drug: Memantine

3

Placebo Comparator group

Treatment:

Drug: Placebo