The most frequently used agents for treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome are benzodiazepines and clomethiazole. Both have the main disadvantage of potential misuse and respiratory depression. Therefore their use in patients with respiratory diseases is limited. In recent years a treatment strategy with combined carbamazepine and tiapride was reported to be an effective alternative in alcohol withdrawal without the risk of respiratory depression. We report the successful treatment with carbamazepine and tiapride of a patient with probable sleep apnoe syndrome and history of withdrawal-related epileptic seizures.
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Dr. A. Gartenmaier
Klinikum der Universität München
Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
Nußaumstr. 7
80336 München
eMail: agartenm@psy.med.uni-muenchen.de
