Status Report Concerning the Use of Megadose Nicotinic Acid in Alcoholics

Five years ago we completed and reported a longitudinal field trial of large-dose nicotinic acid in 500 diagnosed alcoholics over the preceding five years. Ten percent of this sample group was highly motivated, physically and emotionally intact, early intervention alcoholics. Forty percent were alcoholics demonstrating advanced physical symptoms and significant loss of personal and financial resources. The final group was classical "low-bottom" alcoholics showing serious physical, personal, and economic complications of the alcoholic disease. In this diverse group nicotinic acid showed definite potential for benefiting the alcoholic, particularly those demonstrating more serious central nervous system symptoms of the disease. Several important observations were possible from this study. Nicotinamide proved of no value to alcoholics, suggesting perhaps another mechanism of action than that proposed for its effects on schizophrenics.