Both preclinical and clinical research studies have shown the
GABA(B) receptor agonist baclofen represents a promising treatment for
alcohol dependence. Preliminary clinical studies indicate that
baclofen is able to suppress
withdrawal symptoms in alcohol-dependent patients affected by the alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Moreover,
baclofen has shown efficacy and safety in promoting alcohol abstinence in alcohol dependent patients in two placebo-controlled trials including one in alcohol-dependent patients with
liver cirrhosis. These trials also demonstrated that
baclofen was associated with reductions in withdrawal-related anxiety and alcohol craving. However, more work is needed to clearly demonstrate the efficacy of
baclofen and to ascertain whether efficacy is limited to certain subtypes of alcoholic patients. For example, a recent US trial failed to demonstrate a robust effect of
baclofen in treating alcohol-dependent patients though the relative moderate severity of
alcohol-dependence in that trial has been suggested as one factor that may have contributed to the finding. In the present review, the authors will summarize the published clinical studies on the role of
baclofen in
alcohol dependence and will also present some unpublished secondary analyses. Finally, the authors will discuss possible future directions to further investigate the role of
baclofen in
alcohol dependence (e.g.,
baclofen's biobehavioral mechanisms, different
baclofen doses, differences in severity and in alcoholic subtypes, different formulations of
baclofen, possible combination of
baclofen with other medications).