High-dose baclofen for the treatment of alcohol addiction.

1. Male and Female patients, aged between 18-60 years;

2. Participants have a current DSM-IV diagnosis of alcohol dependence;

3. Participants sign a witnessed informed consent;

4. Participants have a breath alcohol concentration lower than 0.5 % at the screening visit;

5. Participants must have been drinking ≥ 14 drinks (female) or ≥ 21 drinks (males) on average per week over a consecutive 30-day period in the 90-day period prior to the start of the study and have two or more days of heavy drinking (five drinks females, six drinks males) in the 90-day period prior to the start of the study;

6. Participants must have had a minimum of 96 hours of abstinence prior to the start of the medication;

7. Participants can be abstinent for a maximum of 21 days prior to the start of the study;

8. Participants must be able to speak and understand Dutch;

9. Participants provide an identified person that can be contacted during the study in the event of loss of contact and can give information about the patient’s alcohol use.

1. Participants with current severe psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder,bulimia/anorexia, or ADHD requiring medication) besides depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety;

2. Participants with serious medical illnesses (Parkison’s disease, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, cerebrovascular disease, respiratory insufficiency, hepatic or renal insufficiency, and epilepsy);

3. Patients who are treated with anti-hypertensive medication;

4. Participants who are at risk of suicide evaluated by the suicidality module of the M.I.N.I.;

5. Participants who have a cognitive impairment which is likely to interfere with the understanding of the study and its procedures;

6. Participants with a diagnosis of dependence on any drugs except for nicotine, cannabis, alcohol and caffeine, if alcohol dependence doesn’t represent the main addiction;

7. Participants who are/or could be pregnant or nursing infants;

8. Participants who intend to engage in additional treatment for alcohol-related problems. Self-help treatments are not considered formal treatment;

9. Participants with current or recent (3 months prior to the start of the study) treatment with anti-craving medication (acamprosate, naltrexone, disulfiram, or topiramate);

10. Participants who have had more than seven days of inpatients treatment for substance use disorder in the 30 days prior to the start of the study;

11. Participants who have prior use of baclofen in the last 30 days.