Rimonabant to Reduce Alcohol Consumption

Exclusion Criteria

• •Any history or presence of significant cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastro-intestinal, hepatic, renal, metabolic, hematological, neurologic (including any history of convulsions), systemic, infectious diseases, or psychiatric disorders (i.e., a current diagnosis of major depression, panic disorder, eating disorders, or history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or obsessive compulsive disorder). Individuals who report suicidal ideation or who have a past history of suicide attempts.
• •Frequent headaches and/or migraine, recurrent nausea and/or vomiting.
• •Symptomatic hypotension whenever the decrease of blood pressure or asymptomatic postural hypotension defined by a decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP) equal to or greater than 20 mmHg within two minutes when changing from the supine to the standing position.
• •Blood donation within three months before administration.
• •Presence or history of any allergy or unusual reactions to drugs or anesthetics that would suggest the participant could have a problem tolerating SR141716 or placebo.
• •A participant who, in the judgment of the Investigator, is likely to be non-compliant, is violent when drinking, or is unable to cooperate because of a language problem or poor mental development.
• •Participant who cannot be contacted in case of emergency.
• •Currently taking any prescription medications or over-the-counter medications on a regular basis. Participants will be allowed to take an occasional pain medication or an antibiotic, if they get sick during their participation in the protocol.
• •Excessive consumption of beverages with xanthine bases (greater than 6 cups or glasses/day).
• •Female participants who have a positive Beta-HCG test (urine and/or plasma) or who are lactating.
• •Positive reaction to any of the following tests: HBs antigen, anti-HCVantibody, anti-HIV1 antibodies, anti-HIV2 antibodies. (Hepatitis could interfere with the metabolism of SR141716 in the liver. HIV could alter brain function.)
• •Positive results of screening for drugs of abuse (amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine, or opiates).
• •A DSM-IV diagnosis of illicit drug dependence in the last 6 months.
• •Participants who come to the NIAAA Clinic and evidence withdrawal symptoms that result in a score of 8 or above on the CIWA Instrument.