[Acute liver failure following tetrabamate].

Abstract

Tetrabamate (Atrium), a composite preparation of phenobarbital, difebarbamate and febarbamate, is widely used to reduce ethanol withdrawal symptoms such as tremor, agitation and anxiety. Generally this drug is well tolerated and a few cases of reversible hepatitis as well as clinically mild symptoms of asthenia have been described. We report on a 28-year-old female patient admitted to hospital with acute liver failure after treatment with tetrabamate because of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Liver biopsy revealed a drug-induced toxic alteration with extensive panlobular necrosis without signs of alcoholic hepatitis. Under supportive therapy liver parameters normalized in 3 months. In view of this potentially lethal adverse effect of tetrabamate, it should not be used for ethanol withdrawal symptoms.

• Authors: D Binder, R Jost, R Flury, F Salomon
• Journal: Schweizerische medizinische Wochenschrift (Schweiz Med Wochenschr) Vol. 125 Issue 19 Pg. 965-9 (May 13 1995) ISSN: 0036-7672 [Print] Switzerland
• Vernacular Title: Akutes Leberversagen nach Tetrabamat.
• PMID: 7761807 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

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

Topics

• Adult
• Alcoholism (rehabilitation)
• Barbiturates (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Drug Combinations
• Female
• Humans
• Liver (pathology)
• Liver Failure, Acute (chemically induced, diagnosis, pathology)
• Liver Function Tests
• Phenobarbital (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Psychotropic Drugs (adverse effects)
• Substance Withdrawal Syndrome (drug therapy)