title: A double blind randomised comparison of chlordiazepoxide and lorazepam in alcohol withdrawal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of lorazepam and chlordiazepoxide in alcohol withdrawal in a double blind design.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study sample consisted of 108 consecutive admissions to the de addiction ward, which after informed consent and selection based on inclusion criteria, were randomised to two groups. A comparison of the efficacy of chlordiazepoxide and lorazepam was done post randomisation. The initial withdrawal assessment and subsequent progress of withdrawal were assessed using Clinical Institute Assessment for Alcohol-revised (CIWA-Ar). The rate of withdrawal and total duration of withdrawal were compared among the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lorazepam treated group showed a significant difference in the rate of improvement over 48 h compared to chlordiazepoxide group (70.4% vs. 54.8%; p=0.000). The total duration of withdrawal was also significantly lesser with lorazepam (5.6 days vs. 6.7 days; p=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lorazepam is more effective than chlordiazepoxide in alcohol withdrawal in both a faster rate in the drop of withdrawal severity and lessening the total duration of withdrawal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, KMCT Medical College, Calicut, India. Electronic address: rajgiggsmohan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rajmohan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sushil
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mohandas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002707:Chlordiazepoxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D002707:Chlordiazepoxide; D008140:Lorazepam
keywords: CIWA-Ar; Chlordiazepoxide; Dependence; Lorazepam; Withdrawal