Conditions: Alcohol Dependence Alcohol Abuse Substance Abuse
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Enrollment: 11
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of treatment with carisbamate compared to treatment with placebo, on alcohol-induced stimulant and subjective effects in non-treatment seeking alcohol-dependent human volunteers.

Detailed description:
This within-subjects placebo-controlled experimental protocol will assess the effects of carisbamate (600mg qd) on the positive subjective effects of alcohol in non-treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent volunteers. Participants will receive study drug (carisbamate or placebo) from days 2- 4. On day 4, study drug will be followed by alcohol (0.8g/kg; 16% by volume) and a placebo beverage (1% by volume as a mask), both separated by 2 hours. Physiologic, subjective effects and BAL will be obtained after the alcohol challenges. Participants will be discharged on day 4 and asked to return a week later to repeat the study under the alternate study drug condition (active carisbamate vs. placebo).

Arms:
arm 1: Participants will receive placebo from days 2- 4. arm 2: Participants will receive carisbamate 600mg qd from days 2- 4.

Interventions: intervention 1: Carisbamate intervention 2: Placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: 600mg Orally on days 2-4 intervention 2: Placebo treatment only

Protocol document: