Kudzu Root for Chronic Alcoholism
Literature Briefs-With Analysis by Cydney E. McQueen, PharmD
Kudzu Root for Chronic Alcoholism
Source: Shebek J, Rindone JP. A pilot study exploring the effect of kudzu root on the drinking habits of patients with chronic alcoholism. J Altern Compl Med 2000;6:45-48.
Objective: To assess the effects of kudzu root on sobriety alcohol craving in patients enrolled in a 12-step recovery program.
Design and Setting: Four-month, RDBCT against placebo at the Veteran Affairs Hospital in Prescott, AZ.
Subjects: Forty-nine (48 male) veterans entering a substance abuse treatment program with a DSM-IV diagnosis of chronic alcoholism.
Treatment: A 12-step recovery program, group therapy, and either kudzu or placebo.
Dose/Route/Duration: 1.2 g kudzu root or identical placebo capsules bid for four months.
Outcome Measures: Evaluation was by patient-completed questionnaire every 30 days. Primary outcome measures were sobriety and alcohol craving, each measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS).
Results: Thirty-eight patients completed the first month, but only 15 patients completed all four months. There was no difference between groups for sobriety or craving scores at months 1, 2, 3, or 4, although at month 2 in both groups and month 3 in the kudzu group, all patients had sobriety scores of 0 (no drinking at all). Side effects of headache, dry mouth, and anxiety were reported, but it is unclear whether these effects occurred in one or more individuals on kudzu; no placebo patients reported side effects.
Strengths/Limitations: Because of the large number of dropouts, only results from month 1 met power; the remaining numbers are so small as to render statistical analysis of extremely little value. The accuracy of self-completed questionnaires can be doubted and no information on concomitant medications or disease states was provided.
Level of Evidence: Negative results; study limitations prevent firm conclusions. Level II, major limitations
Comment: Investigators did recognize and discuss weaknesses of the trial and state that firm conclusions were not possible. Because alcoholism is a long-term disease and recovery programs traditionally have very high dropout rates, a larger and lengthier study is necessary to provide truly useful data.
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