Comparative Study of Gamma-hydroxy Butyrate Versus Oxazepam in the Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (GATE I)
Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome, Alcohol Dependence
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome focused on measuring alcohol withdrawal syndrome, treatment, sodium oxybate, oxazepam
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- age range 21-75,
- diagnosis of alcohol dependence according to DSM-IV criteria
- the presence of AWS as assessed by Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-revised (CIWA-Ar) scale, a scoring system for quantitative evaluation of physical symptoms of AWS.20 Only subjects with a CIWA-Ar score equal to or higher than 10 (defined as moderate or severe AWS requiring pharmacological treatment) were ultimately enrolled in the study.
Exclusion criteria:
- ≤55 kg of body weight;
- history of withdrawal fits within 24 hours pre-study;
- history of epilepsy or epileptics seizures not properly controlled by established anti-epileptic treatment;
- dependence from narcotics, BDZs or other drugs of abuse;
- documented pre-existent hypersensitivity to SMO or to BDZs,
- renal failure (blood creatinine >2•5 mg/dl and/or documented proteinuria >500 mg/die),
- heart failure,
- severe respiratory failure
- hepatic encephalopathy stage II-IV;
- psychiatric disorders requiring treatment with psychoactive medications before the start of the study;
- treatment with clonidine, haloperidol, bromocriptine during the last 3 months prior to participation in the study;
- participation to other clinical investigations in the previous month prior to recruitment;
- females whose could not assure not to become pregnant during the 1 month period of treatment, and during the subsequent 3 weeks;
- subjects without a stable social condition or homeless.
Sites / Locations
- University of Wien
- "G. Fontana" Centre for the Study and Multidisciplinary Treatment of Alcohol Addiction, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bologna
- Catholic University of Rome
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Sodium oxybate (SMO)
Oxazepam
Patients randomized to the first arm of the study will receive: SMO (sodium oxybate 175 mg/ml suspension): 10ml at 8.00 a.m., 10ml at 12.00 p.m., 10ml at 7.00 p.m. from day 1 to day 5, 5ml at 8.00 a.m., 5ml at 12.00 p.m., 5ml at 7.00 pm, on days 6 and 7, and 2.5ml at 8.00 a.m., 2.5 ml at 12.00 p.m., 2.5ml at 7.00 p.m. from day 8 to day 10 (If patient's weight is > 75 kg the dosage will be of 12ml instead of 10 ml, 6ml instead of 5ml, 3 ml instead of 2.5ml); placebo (tablets): 1 tablet at 8.00 a.m., 1 tablet at 12.00 p.m., 1 tablet at 7.00 p.m. from day 1 to day 10.
Patients randomized to the second arm of the study will receive: OXAZEPAM (tablets): 60mg at 8.00 a.m., 60mg at 12.00 p.m., 90mg at 7.00 p.m. from day 1 to day 5, 30mg at 8.00 a.m., 30mg at 12.00 p.m., 30mg at 7.00 pm, on days 6 and 7, and 15mg at 8.00 a.m., 15mg at 12.00 p.m., 15mg at 7.00 p.m. from day 8 to day 10; placebo (suspension): 10ml at 8.00 a.m., 10ml at 12.00 p.m., 10ml at 7.00 p.m. from day 1 to day 5, 5ml at 8.00 a.m., 5ml at 12.00 p.m., 5ml at 7.00 pm, on days 6 and 7, and 2.5ml at 8.00 a.m., 2.5 ml at 12.00 p.m., 2.5ml at 7.00 p.m. from day 8 to day 10, (If patient's weight is > 75 kg the dosage will be of 12ml instead of 10 ml, 6ml instead of 5ml, 3 ml instead of 2.5ml).