NCT00368862

Efficacy Study of Memantine Hydrochloride and Escitalopram for the Treatment of Co-Morbid Depression and Alcoholism.

Phase Four Double-Blind Randomized Comparative Study on Thestudy on the Efficacy of Memantine Hydrochloride and Escitalopram for the Treatment of Co-Morbid Depression and Alcoholism

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (planned)
• Sponsor: Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare · Other Government
• Sex: All
• Age: 25 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of memantine, a noncompetitive NMDA receptor blocker, in depression co-morbid with long term alcohol heavy use comparing to SSRI-inhibitor, escitalopram. Second goal is to compare their influence to cognitive tasks and the third goal is to follow up alcohol-use with these two medicines.

Detailed description

Context Depression is common clinical problem among alcoholics and its treatment has no standard and is controversy. Glutamate NMDA-receptors may mediate the effects of long term alcohol related depression and thus the NMDA-receptor modulator memantine could have effects on it. Objectives The preliminary aim of this study was to identify possible new treatment for depression of alcoholics and compare the efficacy of escitalopram and memantine in co-morbid depression of alcoholism. Design and setting Double-blind, randomized, naturalistic study, 26-week trial on alcohol dependent outpatients. Participants Eighty alcohol dependent depressive adults Intervention Subjects were randomized 1:1 to receive memantine or escitalopram 20 mg per day. During the study the patient received routine psychosocial treatment at A-Clinic. No concomitant intervention on alcohol consumption and no imposed treatment goals. The patients were met weekly in first month, then after 3 and 6 months.

Conditions

• Alcoholism
• Depression

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Ebixa (memantine hydrochloride)
DRUG	Cipralex (escitalopram)

Timeline

• Start date: 2005-12-01
• Completion: 2006-06-01
• First posted: 2006-08-29
• Last updated: 2006-08-29

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Finland