Efficacy and Safety of Outpatient Alcohol Detoxification with a Combination of Tiapride/Carbamazepine: Additional Evidence

M. Soyka; F. Schmidt; P. Schmidt

doi:10.1055/s-2006-931479

Pharmacopsychiatry, Table of Contents

Pharmacopsychiatry 2006; 39(1): 30-34
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-931479

Original Paper

Efficacy and Safety of Outpatient Alcohol Detoxification with a Combination of Tiapride/Carbamazepine: Additional Evidence

M. Soyka¹ , F. Schmidt¹ ^, ² , P. Schmidt¹

¹Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, Nussbaumstr. 7, 80336 Munich, Germany
²Klientenzentrierte Problemberatung Dachau, Münchner Str. 33, 85221 Dachau, Germany

This study was supported by an unrestricted educational grant by the pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis

Abstract

Background: Few medications have been tested for outpatient alcohol detoxification. Previously we had shown a combination of carbamazepine and tiapride to be effective in an open study. This database is an extension of our previous work. Methods: This was an open prospective study to examine the efficacy, practicability and medical safety of a combination of tiapride and carbamazepine in outpatient detoxification of alcohol dependent patients. Patients were carefully screened for relevant neuropsychiatric disorders and then seen on a daily outpatient basis. Results: A total number of 116 consecutively admitted patients entered the programme; 107 (92 %) successfully ended the treatment. The mean initial dose for tiapride was 289 mg and for carbamazepine 502 mg. No serious medical complications or adverse events were observed except for one case of delirium tremens. Only four patients dropped out because of side effects. In general medication was well tolerated. Withdrawal symptomatology as indicated by CIWA-A-scores decreased over time. Conclusions: Results from this study give further evidence for a combination of tiapride and the anticonvulsant carbamazepine as an effective and safe treatment for outpatient alcohol detoxification in patients with moderate severity of withdrawal syndrome. Further randomized trials are warranted to examine the efficacy of this combination in outpatient alcohol withdrawal.

Full Text

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Prof. Dr. M. Soyka

Psychiatric Hospital

University of Munich

Nussbaumstr. 7

80336 Munich

Germany

Phone: +49 89 5160 277

Fax: +49 89 5160 5617

Email: michael.soyka@med.uni-muenchen.de