NCT00523185

A Comparison of Lorazepam and Diazepam in the Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 55 (actual)
• Sponsor: Stanford University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 19 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of two commonly used medications in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal, diazepam and lorazepam.

Detailed description

Despite the frequent use of benzodiazepines for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal, studies comparing the efficacy of long and short half-life benzodiazepines in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal have shown mixed results. Due to the conflicting nature of published reports, clinicians have no clear indication as to which type of agent is preferable. The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of two commonly accepted medications in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal, diazepam and lorazepam, which are long and short half-life benzodiazepines, respectively.

Conditions

• Alcohol Withdrawal

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Lorazepam	Lorazepam 1 to 2 mg by mouth or intravenously every two hours as needed for alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
DRUG	Diazepam	Diazepam 20 mg by mouth every two hours x 3 doses, or for parenteral treatment, diazepam 10 mg intravenously every one hour x 6 doses. Give additional diazepam 10 mg by mouth or intravenously every two hours as needed for alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Timeline

• Start date: 2003-05-01
• Completion: 2004-11-01
• First posted: 2007-08-31
• Last updated: 2007-08-31

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United States