Massive benzodiazepine requirements during acute alcohol withdrawal

Publication: American Journal of Psychiatry

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.136.6.821

Abstract

Severe alcohol withdrawal developed in an abstinent chronic alcoholic man. Massive doses of benzodiazepines (2,335 mg of diazepam intravenously, 21,225 mg of oxazepam orally) achieved only marginal control of delirium and agitation. Analysis of multiple blood samples drawn during and after the withdrawal episode indicated, as expected, very high concentrations of diazepam and metabolites and of oxazepam. There was no evidence of an abnormal pharmacokinetic profile. Benzodiazepine resistance in withdrawing alcoholics probably reflects a receptor-site phenomenon rather than an abnormal drug disposition.

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Published In

American Journal of Psychiatry

Volume 136 • Number 6 • June 1979

Pages: 821 - 823

PubMed: 443469

History

Published in print: June 1979

Published online: 1 April 2006

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Massive benzodiazepine requirements during acute alcohol withdrawal

Abstract

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