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

Inclusion Criteria: * age range 21-75, * diagnosis of alcohol dependence according to DSM-IV criteria * the presence of AWS as assessed by Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-revised (CIWA-Ar) scale, a scoring system for quantitative evaluation of physical symptoms of AWS.20 Only subjects with a CIWA-Ar score equal to or higher than 10 (defined as moderate or severe AWS requiring pharmacological treatment) were ultimately enrolled in the study. 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.