CARBAMAZEPINE IN THE TREATMENT OF ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL-SYMPTOMS - A SURVEY OF THE STATE-OF-THE-ART IN MODERN RESEARCH

Originally only intended as an anti-epileptic carbamazepine has nowada ys a multitude of applications in the treatment of neurological and ps ychiatric diseases. It is also being used for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Its pharmacological properties and side-effects are well known and very effective dosage schedules already exist. The exact physiological action of carbamazepine, however, as well as the p athophysiological basis of withdrawal itself have not been entirely di scovered. Evidence exists that ''anti-kindling-effects'' are of partic ular importance. A number of controlled clinical studies were able to demonstrate the effectiveness of carbamazepine in the treatment of alc ohol withdrawal symptoms and have also compared its properties to othe r substances such as clomethiazole and benzodiazepine. Due to its effe ctiveness and the lack of additive potential carbamazepine offers a us eful alternative to conventional therapeutic approaches, especially in the treatment of mild and moderately severe alcohol withdrawal sympto ms.