12-09-2008, 04:20 PM
A doctor claims to have found a 'chemical cure' for alcoholism.
By Stephen Adams
Last Updated: 10:30AM GMT 08 Dec 2008
French cardiologist Dr Olivier Ameisen tested out baclofen on himself and was amazed by the effect it had on reducing his drinking.
Baclofen, which is commonly used to treat muscle spasms, appears to suppress the craving for alcohol.
Dr Ameisen, 55, has written a book about his discovery, called Le Dernier Verre (The Last Glass) which is proving a publishing hit in France. It comes out in English next month.
In it, he calls for clinical trials to test his theory.
But some specialists believe it is "extremely irresponsible" to tell people that alcoholism - a physical, social and psychological condition - can be treated with a simple drug
Dr Ameisen said that baclofen was so effective that it enabled alcoholics to return to social drinking rather than cutting it out completely, which is often the route that counsellors recommend.
He said: "Mine is the first case in which a course of medicine was completely suppressed alcohol addiction. Now I can have a glass and it has no effect. Above all, I no longer have the irrepressible need to drink."
One of France's most respected cardiologists, he said he took to drink despite his success after being struck by a sense of inadequacy. He wrote that he felt like "an imposter waiting to be unmasked."
He wrote: "I detested the taste of alcohol. But I needed its effects to exist in society."
Between 1997 and 1999 he spent nine months in clinics trying everything from hypnosis to acupuncture, without success. Then a friend sent him an article about how a cocaine user with muscle problems had been cured of his addiction after being prescribed baclofen.
Two years later he started treating himself with the drug and noticed "almost immediately" that his desire for alcohol was diminishing. He gradually built up to his maximum daily dose of 270mg, and even now takes between 30 and 50mg.
In Switzerland, Dr Pascal Garche tried a small scale experiment using baclofen on 12 patients. He said seven experienced significant improvements.
Now the French agency that tests and approves drugs, L'Agence Francaise de Securité Sanitaire des Produits de Santé (Afssaps) has said it will consider "how to organise clinical trials". It also warned that baclofen does have side effects.
Some doctors are concerned people might think alcoholism can now be cured by a pill.
Dr Michel Reynauld of Paul Brousse Hospital in Paris, told the BBC: "Encouraging people to think that there is a miracle molecule is to completely misunderstand the nature of alcoholism, and is extremely irresponsible."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnew...olism.html
By Stephen Adams
Last Updated: 10:30AM GMT 08 Dec 2008
French cardiologist Dr Olivier Ameisen tested out baclofen on himself and was amazed by the effect it had on reducing his drinking.
Baclofen, which is commonly used to treat muscle spasms, appears to suppress the craving for alcohol.
Dr Ameisen, 55, has written a book about his discovery, called Le Dernier Verre (The Last Glass) which is proving a publishing hit in France. It comes out in English next month.
In it, he calls for clinical trials to test his theory.
But some specialists believe it is "extremely irresponsible" to tell people that alcoholism - a physical, social and psychological condition - can be treated with a simple drug
Dr Ameisen said that baclofen was so effective that it enabled alcoholics to return to social drinking rather than cutting it out completely, which is often the route that counsellors recommend.
He said: "Mine is the first case in which a course of medicine was completely suppressed alcohol addiction. Now I can have a glass and it has no effect. Above all, I no longer have the irrepressible need to drink."
One of France's most respected cardiologists, he said he took to drink despite his success after being struck by a sense of inadequacy. He wrote that he felt like "an imposter waiting to be unmasked."
He wrote: "I detested the taste of alcohol. But I needed its effects to exist in society."
Between 1997 and 1999 he spent nine months in clinics trying everything from hypnosis to acupuncture, without success. Then a friend sent him an article about how a cocaine user with muscle problems had been cured of his addiction after being prescribed baclofen.
Two years later he started treating himself with the drug and noticed "almost immediately" that his desire for alcohol was diminishing. He gradually built up to his maximum daily dose of 270mg, and even now takes between 30 and 50mg.
In Switzerland, Dr Pascal Garche tried a small scale experiment using baclofen on 12 patients. He said seven experienced significant improvements.
Now the French agency that tests and approves drugs, L'Agence Francaise de Securité Sanitaire des Produits de Santé (Afssaps) has said it will consider "how to organise clinical trials". It also warned that baclofen does have side effects.
Some doctors are concerned people might think alcoholism can now be cured by a pill.
Dr Michel Reynauld of Paul Brousse Hospital in Paris, told the BBC: "Encouraging people to think that there is a miracle molecule is to completely misunderstand the nature of alcoholism, and is extremely irresponsible."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnew...olism.html
