tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301999496344158780.post3822605078736433988..comments2023-10-02T04:54:51.199-07:00Comments on The MacGuffin: Topiramate Does Not Treat Alcohol Dependnece: Part 1NeuroPsychhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10654138293659468787noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301999496344158780.post-21146357847756386652011-03-16T18:58:09.045-07:002011-03-16T18:58:09.045-07:00This study doesn't prove that topiramate cures...This study doesn't prove that topiramate cures alcoholism but it shows that is has a positive effect, regardless of the flaws. You strike me as someone who has never written a grant. Unless you have an infinite source of money you'll never get a perfect study (that includes indefinite follow-up, large sample size to reduce the SD, etc). <br /><br />This study shows that there is merit to a better funded study that is more convincing and will make it easier for someone else to write a grant for a better study.<br /><br />It seems like you're creating a straw man (topiramate cures alcoholism) when the researchers are arguing something completely different.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301999496344158780.post-79574956754268947932010-02-06T13:18:52.699-08:002010-02-06T13:18:52.699-08:00Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics..... Unless one lo...Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics..... Unless one looks closely at the numbers it's hard to tell the difference.<br /><br />The JAMA article is quite an interesting read. <br /><br />People affected by alcoholism should investigate closely all avenues for treatment. Note, even the socially sanctioned AA admits to a very low success rate. Keep looking and don't give up hope.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301999496344158780.post-60034007644594088332009-11-28T11:21:29.426-08:002009-11-28T11:21:29.426-08:00In clinic, I've seen firsthand plenty of alcoh...In clinic, I've seen firsthand plenty of alcoholics which had good results with topiramate. Others, not so much, and there is still relapsing. Ignoring the study, which admittedly is flawed, the drug is still very helpful for some people. Of course, I'd love to see a better study done, so that we have better evidence, and more acceptance in the clinics. The bottom line is that it works for you or it doesn't. No amount of statistics will answer that question.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301999496344158780.post-84522966613297579982009-06-16T13:57:37.253-07:002009-06-16T13:57:37.253-07:00Alcohol kills. There is not any current treatment ...Alcohol kills. There is not any current treatment that may cure alcoholism. The challenge is even greater before abstinence is achieved and this may require hospital admission. If a drug may just allow to reduce the number of alcohol units per day, this would be a great achievement.Litzmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06435365242361712791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301999496344158780.post-33219914180492731542009-03-24T08:00:00.000-07:002009-03-24T08:00:00.000-07:00Here's my homework: http://somatopsychic.blogspot....Here's my homework: <BR/>http://somatopsychic.blogspot.com/2009/03/homework-from-macguffin.htmlMTHardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18211163948698358488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301999496344158780.post-43875223325237730252009-03-24T01:50:00.000-07:002009-03-24T01:50:00.000-07:00Well, indeed.Although one point, I think "days spe...Well, indeed.<BR/><BR/>Although one point, I think "days spent in bed" or something like that would actually be a pretty good outcome measure in depression. In the sense that it's actually an objective measure - it's not just a subjective impression.<BR/><BR/>Put it this way: if an antidepressant reduced scores on the Hamilton scale but didn't decrease % of days spent in bed, would you think it was a good antidepressant? I wouldn't. But then I do tend to have a grudge against depression rating scales.Neuroskeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06647064768789308157noreply@blogger.com