[Use of clonidine in the prevention of alcohol withdrawal syndrome]

Clonidine, an effective antihypertensive drug acting on central presynaptic alpha 2-adrenoreceptors, is commonly used in opiate withdrawal. There is recent evidence of advantages in using clonidine also in alcohol withdrawal. The results of a randomized study on 44 alcoholics, admitted without withdrawal symptoms, are shown. The alcohol withdrawal syndrome appeared in 50% of the patients in the placebo group and in 9% of the clonidine treated patients. Clonidine is an effective tool in the hospital preventive treatment of alcohol withdrawal.