Olivier Ameisen's resume is nothing short of impressive. He passed his high school baccalaureat at the age of 16, then studied medicine at university. Many of his teachers would later refer to him as a genius. He's also a talented pianist: even the piano great Arthur Rubinstein encouraged him to dedicate himself to the instrument.

Ameisen eventually chose a career in cardiology. A doctor at one of New York's most prestigious hospitals, his career took off. But despite his success, all was not well. He had suffered from anxiety since childhood, and in an attempt to escape his mental distress, he sought refuge in alcohol. He eventually became addicted.

"I'd start drinking until the point where I couldn't drink any more," he said. "This could last for five days, sometimes up to 10 or 12 days. It would end in hospital. I was a mess."

To battle his addiction, Ameisen tried out everything the medical profession could offer — but in vain. Then one day he read an article in the New York Times about baclofen. The drug is normally used as a muscle relaxant, but after months of research on the Internet, Ameisen thought it could successfully treat his alcoholism. He decided to test the drug on himself.

"On January 9, 2004, I started taking the drug. I took a low dose initially then increased it gradually. Thirty-five days later I happened to be reading a newspaper in a room, surrounded by people drinking. That was when I realised I was completely indifferent to the alcohol. Brief moments of drowsiness are the only negative side effect he's noticed."

Ameisen now takes three pills a day and considers himself recovered from his alcohol addiction. He's just published a book, "Le Dernier Verre" ("The Last Glass"), about his experience that is causing a sensation in France; it is to be published in English next year. But the French agency that authorises the country's prescription drugs does have concerns. The drug has not been tested according to the official protocol.

Unlike this specialist, very few doctors openly admit they use baclofen to treat alcohol addictions. He knows he isn't authorized to prescribe it, but claims he doesn't mind breaking the law if it will benefit his patients.