[The effect of nifedipine and chlordiazepoxide on alcohol withdrawal syndrome]

The aim this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of DHP calcium channel antagonist-nifedipine in human AWS in comparison to conventional treatment with chlordiazepoxide. Fifty nine hospitalized alcoholics of both sexes with diagnosis of AWS according to DSM-III-R criteria were treated for 2 weeks in monotherapy with nifedipine (Cordafen-Polfa)-60 mg/d. or with chlordiazepoxide (Elenium-Polfa)-150 mg/d. Evaluation of AWS symptoms was performed at baseline and after 3, 7, 14 days using Sandowal-Wang scale. Our original scales (37 items) were designed for measuring the depth of dependence (WGU) and the velocity of dependence syndrome appearance (WWO). The results show that both groups were similar regarding WGU and WWO before treatment. Both drugs caused an improvement of AWS symptoms after 3 and 7 days lasting till the end of hospitalization. Nifedipine was well tolerated and no side effects were observed or reported. The group and multidimensional analyses were performed using original computer program. The patients were divided into 3 subgroups. Comparison of mean values of improvement index between both drugs in those subgroups of patients according to WGU criteria, revealed that nifedipine was more effective on the 3-rd and 7-th day in 3 groups and 2 groups resp. According to WWO criteria the improvement index was significantly higher on the 3-rd and 7-th day in two groups whereas in one group chlordiazepoxide and nifedipine action was equal. The proposed method of group and multidimensional analysis enable us to compare the effectiveness of different kinds of AWS treatment. It is an useful aid of choosing the best drug treatment for a new patient.