Alcohol
Volume 21, Issue 3 , Pages 231-237, July 2000

Cardiovascular responses to clonidine in alcohol withdrawal: are they related to psychopathology and mental well-being?

  • Claudia Fahlke

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychology, Göteborg University, P.O. Box 500, SE-405 30, Goteborg, Sweden
    • ,
  • Ulf Berggren

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Sahlgren University Hospital/Mölndal, Goteborg University, SE-431 80, Molndal, Sweden
    • ,
  • Jan Balldin

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Sahlgren University Hospital/Mölndal, Goteborg University, SE-431 80, Molndal, Sweden
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +46-31-343-23-31; fax: +46-31-343-23-48

Received 31 May 1999; received in revised form 8 March 2000; accepted 20 March 2000.

Abstract 

The possible relationships between alpha-2-adrenoceptor function, as assessed by blood pressure, heart rate, and sedative responses to clonidine (CLON; 1.5 μg/kg, i.v.), and psychopathology and mental well-being were investigated in 19 patients with alcohol-dependence in the early withdrawal period (days 1 and 7). An age-matched control group was used (n=17). CLON-induced maximum reduction of systolic blood pressure was less day 1 in the alcohol-dependent patients compared to controls. CLON was found to induce less sedation at day 7 compared to day 1 and to controls. No relationships were seen between the parameters for alpha-2-adrenoceptor function and psychopathology and mental well-being. These findings suggest that CLON-induced changes in blood pressures and heart rate reflect the cardiovascular situation in alcohol withdrawal and not aspects of behavior.

Keywords:  Alcohol-dependence, Alpha-2-adrenoceptors, Clonidine, Blood pressure, Heart rate, Sedation, Psychopathology, Mental well-being

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PII: S0741-8329(00)00088-4

Alcohol
Volume 21, Issue 3 , Pages 231-237, July 2000

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