Novel anticonvulsants in the treatment of alcoholism.

There have been many recent developments in the pharmacological management of alcohol withdrawal and alcohol dependence. Although previous treatments had included benzodiazepines as their mainstay, the use of these agents in the alcoholic population is problematic. Benzodiazepines are themselves addictive and they may increase the risk of alcohol relapse. Non-benzodiazepine anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine, valproic acid, gabapentin, vigabatrin and topiramate have been shown to be excellent treatments of both alcohol withdrawal and the prevention of alcohol relapse. Although none of these agents have yet been approved by the FDA, there is growing evidence in the literature to support their use.