The purpose of this study is to test how tolerable and effective lorazepam is when used to treat alcohol withdrawal in hospital patients at risk for alcohol withdrawal.
Studies show that symptom-triggered dosing is best for treatment of alcohol withdrawal in patients on chemical dependence units without other illness. On general medical hospital wards, withdrawal may be affected by comorbid medical illness. A clinical trial was undertaken to determine whether there is a difference between symptom-triggered (ST) and fixed-schedule (FS) dosing of lorazepam in patients hospitalized on general medical wards at a University medical center. Subjects were assessed by their nurses with the Revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA-Ar) scale. Subjects in the ST arm received lorazepam doses based on CIWA-Ar score. Subjects in the FS arm received scheduled lorazepam with tapering over 4 days.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
183
Lorazepam administered orally or IV for treatment of alcohol withdrawal in hospitalized patients
Lorazepam administered orally or IV for treatment of alcohol withdrawal in hospitalized patients
Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center
Richmond, Virginia, United States
Withdrawal Assessment Scores
Difference in Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA-Ar) scores between study arms
Time frame: participants were followed for the duration of hospital stay, the median length of stay was 3 days
Total Dose of Lorazepam
Differences in total amount of lorazepam administered between protocol groups
Time frame: participants were followed for the duration of hospital stay, the median length of stay was 3 days
Protocol Errors
Percentage of protocol errors between study arms, such as administration of an inappropriate lorazepam dose (inconsistent with CIWA-Ar score); excluded complications due to comorbid medical conditions.
Time frame: participants were followed for the duration of hospital stay, the median length of stay was 3 days
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