A pilot study found that the muscle-relaxing drug baclofen helps ease withdrawal symptoms experienced by individuals recovering from alcohol addiction, Reuters reported March 21.

The study focused on five patients who were trying to maintain abstinence from alcohol but were suffering severe withdrawal symptoms, including tremors, sweating, nausea, and agitation.

After receiving baclofen, withdrawal symptoms in four of the patients diminished within three hours or less, while the fifth patient saw improvement within three days. The participants remained on the drug for 30 days.

Baclofen is generally prescribed for multiple sclerosis and spinal injuries because it acts on the central nervous system to control muscle spasm and tightness.

Based on the study’s findings, lead author Dr. Giovanni Addolorato of the Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Rome, Italy, said the drug should be studied further to determine its use in treating alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

The report is published in the current issue of the American Journal of Medicine.

This article was taken from the 3/25/02 issue of

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