title: Diazepam kinetics in acute alcohol withdrawal.
abstract: We performed a within-subject comparison of the kinetics of diazepam given to 7 alcoholic subjects during acute alcohol withdrawal and again after detoxification. The initial rapid exponential decline of plasma diazepam concentrations (t1/2 alpha) was more rapid during (0.21 +/- 0.03 hr) than after withdrawal (0.44 +/- 0.14 hr, p less than 0.05). Terminal t1/2, clearance, and volumes of distribution changed in individual patients, but mean values did not change. Protein binding was less in patients (93.4 +/- 2.4%) than in healthy controls (97.0 +/- 1.0, p less than 0.05). The effects of alcohol withdrawal on diazepam disposition do not explain the high doses of diazepam commonly required to treat the withdrawal.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003975:Diazepam / Q000097:blood*; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011485:Protein Binding; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D003975:Diazepam