Alshehri Fahad S
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Front Pharmacol. 2025 Apr 25;16:1503035. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1503035. eCollection 2025.
BACKGROUND: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) represents a significant global health burden, characterized by high relapse rates and limited treatment options. Valproic acid, primarily used as an anticonvulsant and mood stabilizer, has been suggested as a potential therapeutic agent for AUD, particularly in patients with coexisting psychiatric conditions. This study systematically analyses clinical trials from ClinicalTrials.gov to evaluate the efficacy of valproic acid in treating AUD. METHODS: A systematic search of ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted to identify clinical trials involving valproic acid in the management of substance use disorder (SUD). A total of 3,822 studies related to SUD were initially identified. Screening for anticonvulsant use narrowed this to 96 trials, and four completed studies specifically involving valproic acid and AUD were included in the final analysis. Key outcomes related to relapse rates, substance use reduction, mood stabilization, and withdrawal symptoms were examined. RESULTS: The included studies focused on various conditions, including alcohol dependence, bipolar disorder with substance abuse, traumatic brain injury with alcohol use, and medication-overuse headache. Valproic acid demonstrated potential benefits in reducing alcohol consumption, stabilizing mood, and managing withdrawal symptoms in specific subpopulations. However, relapse rates remained high in some trials, indicating limited long-term efficacy. Secondary outcomes showed improvements in psychiatric symptoms, though adverse effects such as sedation and gastrointestinal disturbances were noted. CONCLUSION: Valproic acid shows potential as a therapeutic option for managing AUD, particularly in individuals with coexisting psychiatric conditions or complex clinical profiles. While the drug showed some efficacy in reducing substance use and stabilizing mood, the overall impact on long-term abstinence remains uncertain. Further research is needed to better define the role of valproic acid in AUD treatment and to identify patient populations that may benefit most from its use.
背景：酒精使用障碍（AUD）是一项重大的全球健康负担，其特点是复发率高且治疗选择有限。丙戊酸主要用作抗惊厥药和情绪稳定剂，已被认为是治疗AUD的一种潜在治疗药物，尤其是对于同时患有精神疾病的患者。本研究系统分析了来自ClinicalTrials.gov的临床试验，以评估丙戊酸治疗AUD的疗效。 方法：对ClinicalTrials.gov进行系统检索，以确定涉及丙戊酸治疗物质使用障碍（SUD）的临床试验。最初共识别出3822项与SUD相关的研究。筛选抗惊厥药的使用后，这一数字缩小至96项试验，最终分析纳入了四项专门涉及丙戊酸和AUD的完整研究。检查了与复发率、物质使用减少、情绪稳定和戒断症状相关的关键结果。 结果：纳入的研究关注各种情况，包括酒精依赖、伴有物质滥用的双相情感障碍、伴有酒精使用的创伤性脑损伤以及药物过度使用性头痛。丙戊酸在减少特定亚人群的酒精消费、稳定情绪和管理戒断症状方面显示出潜在益处。然而，在一些试验中复发率仍然很高，表明长期疗效有限。次要结果显示精神症状有所改善，不过也注意到了诸如镇静和胃肠道不适等不良反应。 结论：丙戊酸显示出作为治疗AUD的一种治疗选择的潜力，特别是对于同时患有精神疾病或具有复杂临床特征的个体。虽然该药物在减少物质使用和稳定情绪方面显示出一定疗效，但其对长期戒酒的总体影响仍不确定。需要进一步研究以更好地界定丙戊酸在AUD治疗中的作用，并确定可能从其使用中获益最大的患者群体。
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