Alcoholic abstinence syndrome: short-term treatment with metadoxine.
The effects of metadoxine (pyrrolidone carboxylate of pyridoxine), a compound with central benzodiazepine-like properties, were evaluated in two groups of chronic alcoholics (inpatients) presenting a mild withdrawal syndrome. According to a double-blind study design 20 patients received metadoxine 900 mg twice daily eluted in 500 ml of saline infusion, while 20 (the control group) were given 500 ml of saline infusion twice daily with equivalent doses of pyridoxine (40 mg/die) every morning over a 10-day period. The results indicate that metadoxine treatment was able to control alcohol abstinence, thus allowing a reduction in the needs for standard benzodiazepine therapy. The central activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid of this compound might play a crucial role in the clinical effects demonstrated.
Third Department of Neurology, Intituto Ricovero e Cura a Carattesre Scientifico (IRCCS) C. Mondino, University of Pavia, Italy.
G
G
Bono
E
E
Sinforiani
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P
Merlo
G
G
Belloni
M
M
Soldati
E
E
Gelso
D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000431:Ethanol; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000431:Ethanol; C037845:metadoxine; D011736:Pyridoxine; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid