Treatment of acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome with carbamazepine: a double-blind comparison with tiapride.
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.
D000328:Adult; D001549:Benzamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013976:Tiapamil Hydrochloride / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001549:Benzamides; D002220:Carbamazepine; D000431:Ethanol; D013976:Tiapamil Hydrochloride