The effectiveness of the original anticonvulsant Galodif® — a GABAA receptor modulator for alcohol withdrawal syndrome

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The development of new drugs to improve the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation programs for patients suffering from addiction diseases, which are non-addictive and have a stimulating effect on detoxification processes in the body, can increase the effectiveness of therapy and reduce the cost of treatment. A deficiency of GABAergic inhibition in brain structures plays a leading role in the occurrence of paroxysmalness. The innovative anticonvulsant Galodif® (1-[(3-chlorophenyl)(phenyl)methyl]urea), a GABAA receptor modulator, has low toxicity and hepatoprotective properties, which allows it to be recommended for use in the treatment of patients with alcohol dependence. AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluation of the effectiveness of the use of the anticonvulsant drug galodif1 in complex therapy in patients with alcohol dependence with compulsive and paroxysmal disorders with pathological craving for alcohol when withdrawing of alcohol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A limited open-type clinical study of the therapeutic effectiveness of the innovative anticonvulsant galodif1 included 128 male patients (average age 38.3 ± 8.9 years) with a diagnosis of “Mental and behavioral disorders as a result of alcohol consumption, dependence syndrome” (F10.232) and “Mental and behavioral disorders as a result of alcohol consumption, withdrawal states” (F10.302). 68 patients received Galodif® 300 mg per day as an anticonvulsant for 21 days. 60 patients made up the comparison group, receiving carbamazepine at a dose of 400 mg per day. RESULTS: The use of the anticonvulsant Galodif® in complex therapy of patients revealed: normothymoleptic activity of the drug; when assessing depression on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), the average total score decreased from 28.3 ± 1.3 to 5.7 ± 1.9, and a reduction in unmotivated fear and anxiety was noted; vegetative stabilizing effect with a sympathicolytic component with normalization of heart rate; reduction of headaches; weakening or disappearance of pathological desire during withdrawal syndrome in 88% of cases, in the post-withdrawal state — in 57% of cases; taking the drug did not cause any unwanted side effects. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the anticonvulsant Galodif®, which modulates GABAA receptors, has low toxicity and detoxification properties and does not cause side effects, has been proposed as one of the modern pharmacotherapeutic approaches in the treatment of patients with alcohol dependence.