"Rx Helps Heavy Drinkers Drink Less"

Topiramate reduces drinking in heavy drinkers with certain gene variation

(dailyRx News) For heavy drinkers, abstaining from alcohol is a tough goal. Topiramate, a new drug, may reduce heavy drinking in people with a certain gene variation associated with alcohol dependence.

Over 23 percent of people in the U.S. over age 12 have had more than five drinks on one occasion in the last month, and 6.7 percent report doing this at least five days a month. Heavy drinkers can sometimes get help from medications to reduce their drinking.

Topiramate (brand name Topamax) has been shown to reduce the number of heavy drinking days, and a research group recently conducted a study to see if it would reduce the amount that heavy drinkers consumed as well. The researchers found topiramate reduced heavy drinking in people with a certain gene variation associated with alcohol dependence.

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