Novel synergistic treatment of ethanol withdrawal seizures in rats with dopamine and serotonin agonists

Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1995 Feb;19(1):160-3. doi: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1995.tb01485.x.

Abstract

A recent observation in this laboratory of a simultaneous increase in striatal dopamine and a decrease in serotonin in ethanol-dependent rats during ethanol withdrawal prompted studies with combined dopaminergic + serotoninergic agonists to stop withdrawal seizures. Amphetamine (2 mg/kg) + fenfluramine (8 mg/kg) given jointly, but not separately, prevented ethanol withdrawal seizures as effectively as benzodiazepines (chlordiazepoxide), the current drugs of choice. The combination of amphetamine and fenfluramine, unlike chlordiazepoxide, significantly reduced intake of ethanol during and immediately following ethanol withdrawal.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / drug therapy*
  • Amantadine / administration & dosage
  • Amphetamine / administration & dosage
  • Animals
  • Chlordiazepoxide / administration & dosage
  • Dopamine Agonists / administration & dosage*
  • Drug Synergism
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Fenfluramine / administration & dosage
  • Male
  • Pyrimidines / administration & dosage
  • Rats
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Dopamine Agonists
  • Pyrimidines
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists
  • Fenfluramine
  • Chlordiazepoxide
  • Amantadine
  • Amphetamine
  • gepirone