clomethiazole-edisylate and Substance-Withdrawal-Syndrome

Dopamine (DA) sensitivity, assessed through maximal growth hormone (GH) response to stimulation by apomorphine (APO) (0.18-0.24 mg iv) was studied in 16 chronic alcoholics newly admitted after a period of heavy alcohol intake. Repeated hormonal tests were thereafter performed during a 2-month period under strictly controlled conditions to avoid relapse into alcohol consumption. Eight healthy volunteers with alcohol consumption slightly less than that of the general population were used as controls. It was found that DA sensitivity in the early abstinence phase was higher than later in the 2-month recovery period but not significantly different from control values. The relatively higher DA sensitivity in the early abstinence phase might be responsible for a lower threshold for psychotic symptoms and neuroleptic-induced extrapyramidal side effects. The results of this study give further evidence of a prolonged recovery phase after heavy alcohol intake.

Topics: Adult; Alcoholism; Anti-Anxiety Agents; Anticonvulsants; Apomorphine; Benzodiazepines; Chlormethiazole; Ethanol; Female; Growth Hormone; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pituitary Gland, Anterior; Receptors, Dopamine; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome

Seizures and delirium tremens were recorded among 292 randomly selected patients admitted to an in-patient alcoholism program. Despite the almost routine prophylactic use of anticonvulsant and sedative drugs the incidence of seizures and delirium tremens during detoxification in hospital was 3%. However, as most alcohol withdrawal seizures occurred immediately before admission, the overall seizure incidence was higher (10%). Those patients who developed seizures during detoxification admitted previous abuse of benzodiazepines or erratic use of phenytoin. The results suggest that prescribing of anticonvulsants to alcoholics may increase their seizure problems, because they are prone to erratic drug taking, and because of drug-alcohol interactions, increased drug metabolism and abuse of the sedative anticonvulsants.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium; Alcoholism; Anticonvulsants; Carbamazepine; Chlormethiazole; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Oxazepam; Pentobarbital; Phenytoin; Psychoses, Alcoholic; Seizures; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome