Is Topamax an Effective Alcohol Treatment?
Fighting Drug Addiction with Medication
Topamax has long been used to treat seizures in epileptic patients. Only recently, it has been used as an alcohol treatment in patients struggling with cravings and addiction. Topamax works by blocking the dopamine receptors used by alcohol. By blocking these receptors, Topamax is used as an alcohol treatment to reduce the relapse chances in patients. Since dopamine receptors are blocked, the alcoholic receives no pleasure or the high that is accomplished when drinking even the smallest amount of alcohol. Some patients appreciate that the alcohol treatment is in pill form, making it easier for addicts to use the drug.
Topamax as an Alcohol Treatment
Topamax is the name brand for the drug topiramate. This drug was first developed in 1979 to treat seizures. It’s also used to treat severe migraines. For alcohol treatment, Topamax works in two ways. The drug is an antagonist for dopamine receptors. An antagonists attaches to receptors in the brain and block its activity. The block in activity limits the dopamine production and activity, which limits the pleasurable effects of alcohol when consumed.
The second effect Topamax has in the brain is its block in dopamine production by inhibiting the amino acid glutamate. Glutamate is a precursor to dopamine, so its inhibition lessens the amount of dopamine in the brain. The lower levels of dopamine after drinking reduce the high which is an effective alcohol treatment. Without the high, patients no longer crave the drug.
Alcohol Treatment Reduces Side Effects
Topamax has also shown to level blood pressure in alcoholics. One of the main side effects of alcoholism in the liver toxicity and high blood pressure shown in patients who binge drink or have habitual long-term heavy drinking. High blood pressure causes heart disease and damages kidneys. These side effects are the main cause for the high morbidity rates in alcoholics. An effective alcohol treatment reverses these effects, giving the patient a better quality of life and better chances for survival from long-term alcohol consumption.
Topamax Side Effects
As with any drug, Topamax has side effects to consider. Topamax had an FDA warning issued in 2001 highlighting the issue of myopia. Topamax may cause blurred vision in some people who use the drug. As an alcohol treatment, Topamax should only be used under the supervision of a doctor. While the drug may have alcohol treatment benefits, ocular degeneration should be watched by the patient’s physician. Through physician supervision, the ocular side effects can be limited.
References:
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