Carnosin is an endogenously synthesized dipeptide composed by beta-alanine and L-histidine. It acts as a free radical scavenger and possesses antioxidant and antiglycating properties. It is well known that the chronic oxidative stress is formed in alcoholism. A new bioactive medication for people with carnosin as a basic active substance (Russian trade name “Sevitin”) has been developed in Russia. The analysis of the influence of the Sevitin on the pathological addiction to alcohol of alcoholic patients during rehabilitation is presented in this study.

43 alcoholic patients, who had been undergoing anti-alcohol treatment at the Mental Health Research Institute, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Tomsk for one month, were subjects in the research. 32 alcoholic patients in the rehabilitation period took a 1.2 g daily dose of Sevitin (basic group) for 30 days, and the other 14 alcoholic patients were not given any medication treatment during the rehabilitation period (comparison group). Clinical dynamic of basic signs of the alcoholic patients pathological addiction to alcohol (affective, neurovegetative, ideator, dissomnic and behavioral) was rated in scores. The scores were self-reported by patients twice: first – before the rehabilitative period and second – after 30 days of rehabilitation.

The reduction of affective, neurovegetative and dissomnic symptoms after 30 days of rehabilitation was observed in the basic group, while the reduction of these symptoms in the comparison group was not reliable.

It was concluded that the use of Sevitin during the rehabilitation period contributes to reducing of the intensity of the pathological addiction to alcohol.