Alcohol withdrawal: effects of clonidine treatment on sympathetic activity, the renin-aldosterone system, and clinical symptoms

Abstract

Twenty male alcoholics with alcohol withdrawal syndrome were randomized to receive either oral clonidine (3-600 micrograms, six hourly) or oral chlormethiazole (500-1000 mg, six hourly) for 4 days. All subjects were also given oral carbamazepine (200 mg, 12 hourly) throughout the study. Nine subjects given clonidine and eight given chlormethiazole completed the study. Clonidine was as effective as chlormethiazole in suppressing the symptoms and signs of alcohol withdrawal. However, plasma catecholamines, blood pressure, and pulse rate fell more rapidly and to a greater extent during clonidine than following chlormethiazole, findings which could have therapeutic implications. It is suggested that activation of brain noradrenergic neurons constitutes a common denominator in the pathophysiology of several withdrawal syndromes.