Dexamethasone in the treatment of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Pre-clinical studies and clinical case reports suggest that glucocorticoids may be efficacious in ameliorating the signs and symptoms of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome. In order to evaluate the efficacy of the glucocorticoid dexamethasone upon alcohol withdrawal, we administered 4 mg of dexamethasone intravenously to eight alcohol dependent men during withdrawal. Withdrawal severity, as determined by the amount of lorazepam required to ameliorate withdrawal symptoms, was compared to eight other withdrawing patients not administered dexamethasone. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the amount of lorazepam required to treat to withdrawal symptoms. This preliminary study suggests that dexamethasone, in doses expected to suppress hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation, is not efficacious in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal.
Adinoff
B
B
Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, USA. bryadinoff@aol.com
Pols
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone