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CLONIDINE IN ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL
Author(s) -
Björkqvist S. E.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1975.tb00041.x
Subject(s) - clonidine , placebo , anesthesia , medicine , anxiety , blood pressure , alcohol , depression (economics) , psychiatry , alternative medicine , pathology , economics , macroeconomics , biochemistry , chemistry
In a double‐blind study, patients receiving a rapidly falling dosage of clonidine recovered about 1 day faster from the symptoms of moderately severe alcohol withdrawal than patients receiving placebo. The effects of clonidine were especially noticeable with respect to tremor, sweating, elevated systolic blood pressure, tension, anxiety, depression, and general condition. Clonidine had no effect on the sleep disturbances. No significant side effects were seen. It is suggested that clonidine is a useful aid in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal, especially when it is desirable to minimise the use of tranquillisers.