Serotonergic anti-depressants and ethanol withdrawal syndrome: a review.
OBJECTIVE
To review laboratory findings on the effects of anti-depressant agents that interact with the serotonergic system on signs of ethanol withdrawal syndrome in rats.


METHODS
Adult Wistar rats received a modified liquid diet to produce ethanol dependence. Signs of ethanol withdrawal, locomotor hyperactivity, stereotyped behaviour, tremor, wet dog shakes, agitation, and audiogenic seizures, were evaluated for the first 6 h of ethanol withdrawal. The effects of the anti-depressants fluoxetine, venlafaxine, escitalopram, tianeptine, and extract of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) (HPE) were examined.


RESULTS
Some beneficial effects of fluoxetine, tianeptine, HPE, escitalopram and venlafaxine on ethanol withdrawal signs were observed, ranked as follows: fluoxetine = tianeptine > HPE > escitalopram > venlafaxine.


CONCLUSIONS
Tianeptine and fluoxetine seem to be potent pharmacologically active agents on ethanol withdrawal syndrome in rats. Thus, these anti-depressants may be useful in treatment of ethanol withdrawal syndrome in patients with alcoholism. In addition to serotonergic effects, interactions with nitrergic, glutamatergic, and adenosinergic systems may also provide a significant contribution to the beneficial effects of these drugs on ethanol withdrawal syndrome.
Uzbay
I Tayfun
IT
Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Pharmacology, Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Etlik 06018 Ankara, Turkey. tuzbay@gata.edu.tr
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020902:Hypericum; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018490:Serotonin Agents; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D005473:Fluoxetine; D015283:Citalopram; D000431:Ethanol