Possible Interaction: Ethanol and Tiagabine

“Benzodiazepines, clomethiazole, tiagabine , vigabatrin, pregabalin, gabapentin, acamprosate, naltrexone, GHB, topiramate, ondansetron and baclofen at low dose (≤1 mg/kg, the dose range used in randomized trials in humans: 30 and 60 mg/day) have all been shown to at best reduce motivation to consume alcohol in rats.”

“We found that ethanol decreased the amount of extra-cellular GABA, and that this effect was counterbalanced by administration of tiagabine 1 mg/kg, a potent inhibitor of GAT-1 GABA transporter, given by the i.p.”

“A single dose of tiagabine markedly increases the effect of ethanol on rabbit EEG, which indicates a synergistic inhibitory effect of these agents on the CNS.”

“Repeated doses of tiagabine decrease the sensitivity of the hippocampus to the effect of ethanol , which may be important for the treatment of addictions.”

“The mechanism of tiagabine effect suggests that it may alleviate the rewarding effect of ethanol , which can be applied in the treatment of addiction.”

“Results of Exp‐1 and Exp‐2 indicated that tiagabine can reduce appetitive behavior for ethanol reward with no evidence of tolerance upon chronic exposure.”

“The results of the experiments suggest that in addition to reducing alcohol withdrawal symptoms, tiagabine might also reduce the potency of ethanol‐conditioned cues that drive appetitive behavior for ethanol.”

“ Tiagabine doses that reduced ethanol reward had less effect on behavior maintained by either water or food, and had no effect on motor activity.”