Treatment of acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome with carbamazepine: a double-blind comparison with tiapride.

Abstract

A double-blind, randomized trial is described which was designed to compare the clinical effect of 600 mg daily of carbamazepine (Tegretol) and of tiapride (Sereprile) in hospitalized patients with pre-delirium tremens. Physicians' assessment of patients' progress was made following 2, 4 and 7 days of treatment. Of the sixty patients admitted to the study, five dropped out for various reasons, leaving fifty-five patients who completed the study. Both drugs were effective in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal symptoms; no significant difference was found between the two treatments with respect to total symptoms, score and visual analogue scale assessment. Carbamazepine gave faster relief of symptoms and demonstrated a preferential action on symptoms like fear and hallucinations. No case of delirium tremens was observed in those patients who completed the trial.

• Authors: R Agricola, M Mazzarino, R Urani, V Gallo, E Grossi
• Journal: The Journal of international medical research (J Int Med Res) Vol. 10 Issue 3 Pg. 160-5 ( 1982) ISSN: 0300-0605 [Print] England
• PMID: 7047258 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Benzamides
• Carbamazepine
• Ethanol
• Tiapamil Hydrochloride

Topics

• Adult
• Benzamides (therapeutic use)
• Blood Pressure
• Carbamazepine (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Double-Blind Method
• Ethanol (adverse effects)
• Female
• Heart Rate
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Substance Withdrawal Syndrome (drug therapy)
• Tiapamil Hydrochloride (adverse effects, therapeutic use)