A Randomised Controlled Trial of N-acetylcysteine for the Management of Alcohol Use Disorder

Inclusion Criteria:

• Alcohol Use Disorder according to the DSM-V criteria
• A desire to reduce or stop drinking
• Consumed at least 21 standard drinks per week or 2 heavy drinking days per week (HDD: ≥ 5 standard drinks/day for men; ≥4 for women) in the month prior to screening
• Adequate cognition and English language skills to give valid consent and completeresearch interviews
• Stable housing
• Willingness to give written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy or lactation (women will be advised to use reliable contraception during thetrial and a pregnancy test will be performed were necessary)
• Concurrent use of any psychotropic medication other than antidepressants (providedthese are taken at stable doses for at least two months)
• Any substance dependence other than nicotine
• Clinically unstable systemic medical (e.g. cancer, end stage liver disease: e.g. MELDscore ≥ 10) or psychiatric disorder (e.g. active psychosis, borderline personalitydisorder, active suicide risk: e.g. MADRAS item 10 score of 6) that precludes trialparticipation
• Concurrent use of selenium, vitamin D or other anti-oxidants
• Any alcohol pharmacotherapy within the past month