U.Va. doctor links epilepsy drug, alcohol
By Kathleen Meyers | September 8, 2004Popping a pill may actually be the latest and most effective weapon against addiction. Dr. Bankole Johnson, the newly recruited chair of the University's department of psychiatric medicine, soon will begin a second clinical trial studying the effects of the drug topiramate, currently used to treat epilepsy, at a University alcohol treatment center set to open early next year. An initial clinical trial conducted by Johnson at the University of Texas Health Science Center indicated that topiramate can actually help alcoholics quit drinking. "It just so happens that the medication developed for epilepsy has the same chemical properties that you need to combat the effects of alcohol on the brain," Johnson said.


