Treatment of alcoholic organic brain syndrome with the serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluvoxamine: a preliminary study.

Abstract

The chronic effects of fluvoxamine (200 mg per day for 4 weeks) were studied in ten alcoholic organic brain syndrome patients in a double-blind cross-over design. Complete neuropsychological evaluation was performed as well as measurement of neurochemical changes in CSF. Fluvoxamine produced a small but significant improvement in memory performance. An analysis of fluvoxamine minus placebo difference scores showed a significant correlation between memory functioning and CSF 5HIAA levels. Alcohol amnestic syndrome patients who had the highest blood levels of fluvoxamine demonstrated the largest changes in CSF 5HIAA and improvement in memory performance under fluvoxamine. These findings implicate a role of serotonergic mechanisms in alcoholic organic brain syndrome and suggest that with individual titration of the drug dose, fluvoxamine might be a clinically useful agent in the treatment of this syndrome.

• Authors: J M Stapleton, M J Eckardt, P Martin, B Adinoff, L Roehrich, G Bone, D Rubinow, M Linnoila
• Journal: Advances in alcohol & substance abuse (Adv Alcohol Subst Abuse) Vol. 7 Issue 3-4 Pg. 47-51 ( 1988) ISSN: 0270-3106 [Print] United States
• PMID: 2464912 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Oximes
• Ethanol
• Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid
• Fluvoxamine

Topics

• Aged
• Alcohol Amnestic Disorder (drug therapy)
• Dementia (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Double-Blind Method
• Ethanol (adverse effects)
• Fluvoxamine
• Humans
• Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Middle Aged
• Oximes (therapeutic use)
• Substance-Related Disorders (drug therapy)