Chlormethiazole: current status in the treatment of the acute ethanol withdrawal syndrome

Comparative clinical studies of Chlormethiazole with a vast array of pharmacologically unrelated drugs like benzodiazepines, tiapride, bromocriptine, carbamazepine and phenothiazines over the years clearly established it as a useful, dependable and effective drug to treat patients with moderate to severe ethanol withdrawal syndrome, when used early in a flexible reducing regime tailed off over 7-10 days. It has been found to be highly effective in the treatment, and particularly in the prevention of DT's in high-risk patients, if given at an early stage. This paper critically reviews the important international clinical trial literature of various drugs currently used in the treatment of ethanol withdrawal syndrome, including DT's, it highlights the efficacy and superiority of Chlormethiazole over other drugs, and also discusses the probable mechanism of its actions in these conditions.