but definitive conclusions were limited by either small sample size, methodological, or dosing issues.14,17, 20, 21 The present study was therefore designed to provide a more definitive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of gabapentin at the highest (1800 mg/d) and lowest (900mg/d) FDA-approved doses vs. placebo in a 3-arm, parallel groups, double blind, randomized clinical trial involving recently abstinent outpatient volunteers with alcohol dependence. We hypothesized that gabapentin would be associated with significant linear dose-related increases in rates of sustained abstinence and no heavy drinking, and decreases in abstinence-related symptoms involving sleep, mood, and craving, over the 12-week treatment course.
