Infusional high-dose application of the calcium-channel-blocking and antiglutamatergic agent caroverine in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal (DSM-III-R 291.80).
In an open study, nineteen in-patients fulfilling the criteria for an alcohol withdrawal syndrome (DSM-III-R 291.80) were treated with intravenous caroverine (400 mg/12 h). Caroverine is a class B calcium-channel-blocker and antiglutamatergic agent with significant effects on the brain function. Caroverine exhibits competitive AMPA antagonism, and at higher concentrations, non-competitive NMDA antagonism. All rating scales showed a significant improvement from the start of the treatment throughout the whole study period (CIAW-Ar: P=0.0000; NGI 1: P=0.0000, NGI 2: P=0.0304; CGI 1: P=0.0000, CGI 2: P=0.0208, CGI 3: P=0.0003). The heart rate also stabilised from 111/min before treatment to 81/min after 12 h (P=0.0000). Caroverine was well tolerated, showed no sedative side effects, and no epileptic seizures were observed.
Department of Psychiatry I, Landesnervenklinik Salzburg, Austria.
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Geretsegger
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Fartacek
D000328:Adult; D000438:Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D000438:Alcohols; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D011810:Quinoxalines; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid; C000957:caroverine