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

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Alcohol Withdrawal
• Interventions: Drug: Lorazepam; Drug: Diazepam

• Registration Number: NCT00523185
• Lead Sponsor: Stanford University

Brief 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.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2003-05
• Study Completion: 2004-11
• Status Verified: 2007-08
• Study First Submitted: 2007-08-29
• Study First Submitted QC: 2007-08-29
• Last Update Submitted: 2007-08-29
• Study First Posted: 2007-08-31
• Last Update Posted: 2007-08-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 55

Inclusion Criteria

• Clinical diagnosis of alcohol withdrawal
• History of alcohol use within 24 hours
• Ability to consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria

• Unwillingness to participate in the study
• Active abuse of other CNS depressants
• Acute intoxication with a CNS activating agent
• Severe hepatic dysfunction
• Pregnancy
• History of dementia

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
1	Lorazepam	-
2	Diazepam	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The primary outcome measures include serial measures of vital signs and scores on the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-Revised scale (CIWA-Ar), a widely used scale that monitors alcohol withdrawal symptoms.	one to two weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Secondary outcome measures include total benzodiazepine use.	one to two weeks

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Hospital System; 🇺🇸 Palo Alto, California, United States

Stanford Hospital and Clinics; 🇺🇸 Stanford, California, United States