Infusional high-dose application of the calcium-channel-blocking and antiglutamatergic agent caroverine in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal (DSM-III-R 291.80)

• Published in: European neuropsychopharmacology 1998-08, Vol.8 (3), p.191-194
• Main Authors: Geretsegger, Christian, Fartacek, Reinhold
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Alcohol withdrawal syndrome; Alcoholism; Alcohols - metabolism; alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid - antagonists & inhibitors; Calcium Channel Blockers - administration & dosage; Caroverine; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists - administration & dosage; Female; Glutamatergic system; Humans; Infusion Pumps; Infusions, Intravenous; Male; Middle Aged; N-Methylaspartate - antagonists & inhibitors; NMDA-AMPA-antagonism; Pilot Projects; Quinoxalines - administration & dosage; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - drug therapy; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - physiopathology; Treatment
• ISSN: 0924-977X; 1873-7862
• DOI: 10.1016/S0924-977X(97)00057-6

In an open study, nineteen in-patients fulfilling the criteria for an alcohol withdrawal syndrome (DSM-III-R 291.80) were treated with intravenous caroverine (400 mg/12 h). Caroverine is a class B calcium-channel-blocker and antiglutamatergic agent with significant effects on the brain function. Caroverine exhibits competitive AMPA antagonism, and at higher concentrations, non-competitive NMDA antagonism. All rating scales showed a significant improvement from the start of the treatment throughout the whole study period (CIAW-Ar: P=0.0000; NGI 1: P=0.0000, NGI 2: P=0.0304; CGI 1: P=0.0000, CGI 2: P=0.0208, CGI 3: P=0.0003). The heart rate also stabilised from 111/min before treatment to 81/min after 12 h ( P=0.0000). Caroverine was well tolerated, showed no sedative side effects, and no epileptic seizures were observed.