Comparative Study of Gamma-hydroxy Butyrate Versus Oxazepam in the Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

Exclusion Criteria

• •≤55 kg of body weight;
• •history of withdrawal fits within 24 hours pre-study;
• •history of epilepsy or epileptics seizures not properly controlled by established anti-epileptic treatment;
• •dependence from narcotics, BDZs or other drugs of abuse;
• •documented pre-existent hypersensitivity to SMO or to BDZs,
• •renal failure (blood creatinine \>2•5 mg/dl and/or documented proteinuria \>500 mg/die),
• •heart failure,
• •severe respiratory failure
• •hepatic encephalopathy stage II-IV;
• •psychiatric disorders requiring treatment with psychoactive medications before the start of the study;
• •treatment with clonidine, haloperidol, bromocriptine during the last 3 months prior to participation in the study;
• •participation to other clinical investigations in the previous month prior to recruitment;
• •females whose could not assure not to become pregnant during the 1 month period of treatment, and during the subsequent 3 weeks;
• •subjects without a stable social condition or homeless.