title: Cardiovascular responses to clonidine in alcohol withdrawal: are they related to psychopathology and mental well-being?
abstract: The possible relationships between alpha-2-adrenoceptor function, as assessed by blood pressure, heart rate, and sedative responses to clonidine (CLON; 1.5 microg/kg, i.v.), and psychopathology and mental well-being were investigated in 19 patients with alcohol-dependence in the early withdrawal period (days 1 and 7). An age-matched control group was used (n=17). CLON-induced maximum reduction of systolic blood pressure was less day 1 in the alcohol-dependent patients compared to controls. CLON was found to induce less sedation at day 7 compared to day 1 and to controls. No relationships were seen between the parameters for alpha-2-adrenoceptor function and psychopathology and mental well-being. These findings suggest that CLON-induced changes in blood pressures and heart rate reflect the cardiovascular situation in alcohol withdrawal and not aspects of behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Göteborg University, P.O. Box 500, SE-405 30, Goteborg, Sweden. Claudia.Fahlke@psy.gu.se
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fahlke
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Berggren
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balldin
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol; D003000:Clonidine