TIAPRIDE AND CHLORMETHIAZOLE IN ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL: A DOUBLE-BLIND TRIAL

Sixty-eight patients undergoing withdrawal from alcohol wererandomly allocated to treatment with tiapride, which is a dopamineblocking drug, chlormethiazole or placebo. The placebo groupwas discontinued early in the trial because of the high rateof major complications, a finding which supports the need foractive treatment in withdrawal. Tiapride was less effectivein preventing hallucinosis but was more successful in alleviatinggastrointestinal and psychological distress. Our findings supplementother work suggesting a disturbance of dopaminergic transmissionin alcohol dependency and withdrawal.