Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-nmvwc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-28T09:59:58.768Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Outpatient detoxification of alcoholics using alprazolam – a two-year pilot project

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Catherine McCollam ,
Brian O'Shea ,
Larry Browne  and
Mary Lynch
Catherine McCollam
Affiliation:
, Newcastle Hospital, Greystones, Co. Wicklow
Brian O'Shea
Affiliation:
, Newcastle Hospital, Greystones, Co. Wicklow
Larry Browne
Affiliation:
, Newcastle Hospital, Greystones, Co. Wicklow
Mary Lynch
Affiliation:
, Newcastle Hospital, Greystones, Co. Wicklow
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective -To examine the safety and efficacy of alprazolam as an outpatient detoxification agent. Mehtod - Two-year, prospective, uncontrolled study of detoxification from alcohol employing alprazolam in a North Wicklow day centre. The HAD scale was used to measure emotional change. Results -Detoxification was completed in 26 cases. Adverse effects were mild or absent. Significant changes were recorded in both HAD scale scores. Client and staff satisfaction ratings were both high. Conclusions - Alprazolam is a safe and effective detoxification agent in outpatients. The HAD scale provided an objective measure of changes in anxiety and depression in this group of alcoholics. The treated population were older and more often employed than were alcoholics treated in the parent psychiatric hospital.

Keywords

DetoxificationOutpatientAlprazolamHospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
Type
Clinical & Brief Reports
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , November 1992 , pp. 123 - 126
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Byrne, A, O'Shea, B. The outcome of treated alcoholism in County Wicklow. Ir J Psychol Med 1988; 5: 23–25.Google Scholar
2.O'Shea, B. Alprazolam: just another benzodiazepine? Ir J Psychol Med 1989; 6: 89–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Tubridy, P. Alprazolam vs chlormethiazole in acute alcohol withdrawal. Br J Addict 1988; 83: 581–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Wilson, A, Vulcano, BA. Double-blind trial of alprazolam and chlordiazepoxide in the management of the acute ethanol withdrawal syndrome. Alcohol Clin Exper Res 1985; 9: 23–27.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Edwards, JG, Inman, WHW, Pearce, GL, Rawson, NSB. Prescription-event monitoring of 10895 patients treated with alprazolam. Br J Psychiatry 1991; 158: 387–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Hart, RP, Colenda, CC, Hamer, RM. Effects of buspirone and alprazolam on the cognitive performance of normal elderly subjects. Am J Psychiatry 1991; 148: 73–7.Google ScholarPubMed
7.Zigmond, AS, Snaith, RP. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1983; 67: 361–70.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7a.Hamer, D, Sanjeev, D, Butterworth, E, Barczak, P. Using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to screen for psychiatric disorders in people presenting with deliberat self-harm. Br J Psychiatry 1991; 158: 782–84.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Fabre, LF, Gainey, A, Kemple, S. Pilot open-label study of alprazolam (U-31, 889) in anxious alcoholic out-patients. J Internat Med Res 1977; 5: 26–32.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.McLendon, DM, Fabre, LF. A double-blind comparison of the efficacy of alprazolam and chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride in the chronic withdrawal period from alcohol. Curr Ther Res 1979; 26: 430–9.Google Scholar
10.Kolin, IS, Linet, OI. Double-blind comparison of alprazolam and diazepam for subchronic withdrawal from alcohol. J Clin Psychiatry 1981; 42: 169–73.Google ScholarPubMed
11.Votolato, NA, Batcha, KJ, Makela, Ret al.Comment: alprazolam withdrawal. Drug Intell Clin Pharmacol 1987; 21: 754–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar