This investigation will assess the effectiveness of topiramate in reducing ethanol consumption by alcohol dependent subjects. It also will seek to establish whether topiramate can be safely used in this population including whether it might be subject to abuse by alcohol dependent individuals.

A secondary goal of this study is to assess the effects of topiramate on verbal fluency during treatment for alcohol dependence.

Alcoholism is a disorder that produces extensive morbidity and mortality. Substantial progress has been made in the development of medications that can help to promote abstinence in alcohol dependent individuals. However, investigations of the most promising drugs, particularly naltrexone and acamprosate, suggest that these agents have at best moderate efficacy and there is a great need for additional medications for the treatment of alcoholism.

The results of a recent study suggest that the administration of the anticonvulsant agent ,topiramate helps alcoholic individuals to maintain abstinence (Johnson et al., 2003). The objectives of this study is to determine whether topiramate will reduce the consumption of alcohol in subjects dependent on this substance, as has been previously reported.Other study objectives are to assess the abuse liability properties of topiramate in alcohol dependent subjects and to examine the effects of chronic topiramate administration on cognitive functioning.

This will be a thirteen week long open label clinical trial of the effects of topiramate administration on ethanol consumption by alcohol dependent subjects.

Subjects will be asked to provide informed consent and then will be screened on the same day to determine if they meet study eligibility criteria. Subjects will be asked to return to provide two urines over the following week.

Baseline measures of mood, craving, withdrawal, cognitive functioning and physical health will be obtained. In the afternoon they will receive their first dose of medication. Their responses to this medication challenge will be assessed over a 3-hour period.

During the drug treatment phase subjects will be asked to come to the clinic weekly for assessment and manual guided therapy during weeks 1-4 and biweekly during weeks 6-8. On day 85 subjects will be seen at the clinic for a termination visit.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. DSM-IV Diagnosis of Alcohol Dependence; Minimal drinking level of 14 drinks per week for women and 20 drinks per week for men over a consecutive 30 day period during the last 90 days
2. Intent to stop drinking
3. Male or female age 18-65
4. Able to maintain sobriety for 3 consecutive days without the use of detoxification medications
5. Able to provide informed consent and to comprehend study procedures.
6. If a woman, then is willing to use an effective means of birth control during throughout the study period. These include: a. barrier (diaphragm or condom) with spermicide b.intrauterine progesterone contraceptive system c. levonorgestrel implant d. medroxyprogesterone acetate contraceptive injection e. complete abstinence

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Dependent on or extensive abuse of drugs or substances other than ethanol, nicotine, or caffeine as assessed by urine toxicology (2 out of 3 Dependent on or extensive abuse of drugs or substances other than positive consecutive urines)
2. DSM IV Axis I diagnoses other than ethanol, caffeine, or nicotine dependence severe enough to require treatment with medication or to prevent compliance with the protocol.
3. Currently being treated with disulfiram (Antabuse), naltrexone (ReVia), or acamprosate
4. Currently being treated with any other psychoactive or other CNS medications or a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (e.g. acetazolamide)
5. In need of medical detoxification from alcohol.
6. Prior history of kidney stones.
7. History of liver disease. ALT or AST 3 times higher than upper range of normal values.
8. BUN or serum creatinine outside the normal range
9. Major neurological disorder including seizures
10. Other major diseases including severe hypertension, renal disease, or cardiac disease.
11. Prior participation within 60 days in another clinical study.
12. If female, a positive serum HCG or breast feeding.
13. If female using oral contraceptives as a means of birth control.
14. History of allergic sensitivity to topiramate
15. Pending imprisonment
16. Cardiac pacemaker or metal surgical implant.
17. History of angle closure glaucoma.

Limitation of this trial include the small number of subjects included and lack of blinding, and inculsion of a placebo control group. An other limitation was the testing the active medication topiramate at om=nly one dose level (i.e. 400 mg daily).