Double blind study on the efficacy and safety of tetrabamate and chlordiazepoxide in the treatment of the acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

Abstract

1. Efficacy and safety of tetrabamate and chlordiazepoxide in the treatment of the acute or Primary Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) were assessed during a randomized double blind clinical trial, carried out on sixty male alcoholic in-patients. 2. The two drugs were administered four times a day in double dummy conditions, according to a fixed-flexible decreasing dosage schedule (six days basic regimen). 3. Drug efficacy was measured daily throughout the study period using a battery of standard instruments for collecting quantitative clinical, behavioral, psychopathological and laboratory data. Side effects were daily recorded. 4. Tetrabamate was found to be as efficient as chlordiazepoxide in reducing the intensity of the PAWS, improving sleep and vital signs rapidly and alleviating anxiety progressively. 5. Tetrabamate was found particularly beneficial for severe tremor. Psychomotor and mood scores consistently favored tetrabamate, suggesting psychoanaleptic properties of this compound (increased diurnal vigilance). 6. Side effects were minimal with tetrabamate and generally of weak intensity with chlordiazepoxide. 7. The results of this study indicate that tetrabamate may represent a new alternative drug of choice for the therapy of the acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

• Authors: S Radouco-Thomas, F Garcin, D Guay, P A Marquis, F Chabot, J Huot, S Chawla, J C Forest, S Martin, G Stewart
• Journal: Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry (Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry) Vol. 13 Issue 1-2 Pg. 55-75 ( 1989) ISSN: 0278-5846 [Print] England
• PMID: 2664886 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Barbiturates
• Drug Combinations
• Psychotropic Drugs
• Ethanol
• difebarbamate, febarbamate, phenobarbital drug combination
• Chlordiazepoxide
• Phenobarbital

Topics

• Adult
• Barbiturates (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Chlordiazepoxide (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Combinations (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Ethanol (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Phenobarbital (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Psychotropic Drugs (therapeutic use)
• Random Allocation
• Substance Withdrawal Syndrome (drug therapy, physiopathology, psychology)