Alcohol Self Administration Laboratory

Not Applicable

Completed

Brief Summary: This is a pilot study in which our intent is to establish an alcohol administration laboratory in which we will be able to test the effect of the anticonvulsant medication zonisamide as compared to placebo on alcohol self administration and on cognitive functioning in non treatment seeking heavy users of alcohol. Our first goal is to establish the safety of zonisamide when used together with alcohol. Our second goal is to test the effect of an acute dose of zonisamide on alcohol consumption and show that it may reduce the consumption of alcohol. To achieve this goal we seek subjects with a history of heavy drinking to be tested on the self-administration procedures described below in two sessions with either zonisamide or placebo. These procedures will involve first, the administration of a challenge dose of ethanol to evaluate the effect of alcohol on performance on neuropsychological tests. This initial challenge will be followed by a period of alcohol self-administration in which the research subject can choose to select either ethanol or another reinforcer, money.

Detailed Description: In preclinical studies three novel anticonvulsants have been studied. The administration of tiagabine did not decrease ethanol consumption in rodents (Schmitt et al., 2002; Rimondini et al., 2002). In a study with alcohol preferring mice topiramate reduced alcohol consumption in a two bottle choice prolonged access model of drinking (Gabriel and Cunningham, 2005). In a study done at our laboratory both topiramate and zonisamide were found to have similar effects on reducing the consumption of ethanol in Wistar rat (Knapp et al., 2004). More recently we found that zonisamide administration decreased alcohol consumption in a limited access model in the C57BL/B6 mouse. These results suggest that zonisamide might be useful as a medication for the treatment of alcohol dependence.

Topiramate and zonisamide have some structural similarities with a sulfamate or methane-sulfonamide containing chain respectively attached to cyclic structure. These structural similarities may explain some of their pharmacological similarities including blockade of voltage sensitive sodium channels and low potency inhibition of carbonic anhydrase (Taverna et al., 1999; Dodgson et al., 2000; Schaf et al., 1987; Masudaet al., 1993). Both topiramate and zonisamide promote weight loss (McElroy et al., 2003; McElroy et al., 2004; Gadde et al., 2003). This effect may be a result of neuromodulation of the regulation of alcohol and food shared by these drugs.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Non treatment seeking subjects ages 21-55 must indicate no treatment for alcohol dependence in the preceding 6 months.
Male subjects must drink no more than 40 standard drinks; female subjects no more than 35 standard drinks a week as determined by the TLFB
Subjects must be able to provide IC
BAC must be 0.000 at the time of consent
Female subjects of a child bearing potential must use an acceptable method of contraception which includes a barrier and spermicide, levonorgestrel implant, medroxyprogesterone, intrauterine progesterone contraceptive system or complete abstinence or surgical sterilization. Women who are using oral contraceptives must agree to an additional barrier method.

Exclusion Criteria

Subject meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for axis I diagnosis that require pharmacological treatment.
Subject meeting substance dependence criteria for any substance other than alcohol or nicotine .
Positive urine toxicology screen for opioids, cocaine, amphetamines, PCP, THC (may repeat THC if positive).
History of severe alcohol withdrawals.
Any medical or psychological condition that in the opinion of the investigator will preclude safe participation in the trial. These include a history of kidney stones in the past 10 years, significant liver disease with AST and ALT more than 3 times the normal range.
Concomitant medications that will alter the pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic properties of the study medication. Participant who are taking the following medications: Amprenavir; Atazanavir; Clarithromycin; Delavirdine; Diclofenac; Fosamprenavir; Imatinib; Indinavir; Isoniazid; Itraconazole; Ketoconazole; Miconazole; Nefazodone; Nelfinavir; NiCARdipine; Propofol; Quinidine; Ritonavir; Telithromycin; Phenytoin; carbamazepine and phenobarbital
Subjects on psychoactive medications must be on a stable dose more than 3 months
Female subjects who are pregnant or nursing.
Subject is facing future imprisonment.
A known allergy to zonisamide or sulfa.

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Zonisamide	zonisamide	-
Placebo	Placebo	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Grams Ethanol Consumed During Second Hour of the Alcohol Self-Administration Sessions	1 day	Grams Ethanol Consumed During Second Hour of the Alcohol Self-Administration Sessions for Zonisamide and Placebo Conditions

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Score Digit Symbol Modalities Test	40 minutes post alcohol ingestion	Difference score between zonisamide and placebo treatment conditions for the Digit Symbol Modalities Test scores obtained 40 minutes after ingestion of a priming dose of ethanol.This test involves transcribing from a key in which numbers appear below a series of symbols to boxes below symbols matched to those in the key. This task must be completed in 90 nseconds. This test measures visuomotor speed and aspects of attention. Scoring is the total number of correctly transcribed numbers. The maximum score on this test 110 points.