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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00523185

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

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

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Key information

Conditions

Alcohol Withdrawal

Age range

19 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Hospital System, Palo Alto, California, United States

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About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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

Treatment and study plan

Lorazepam

Drug

Lorazepam 1 to 2 mg by mouth or intravenously every two hours as needed for alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Other names: Ativan

Diazepam

Drug

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.

Other names: Valium

Primary outcomes

  1. 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.

    Time frame: one to two weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Secondary outcome measures include total benzodiazepine use.

    Time frame: one to two weeks

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Stanford University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2003
Study completion
2004
First posted
Aug 31, 2007
Registry last updated
Aug 31, 2007

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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