Treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome

Author:
Y.P. SIVOLAP
Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia

Summary:
Alcohol withdrawal arises in result of long-lasting or short, but massive, alcohol abuse, manifests itself with oppressive symptoms and in some cases is complicated by seizures, hallucinosis and delirium tremens that may be life-threatening for patients. The leading neurochemical factors underlying alcohol withdrawal syndrome and its complications are lack of GABA and excessive glutamate activity, which is important for therapy choice. The first-line drugs in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome and alcoholic delirium are benzodiazepines, which have the maximum pharmacological similarity with ethanol. Other medications, including barbiturates, anticonvulsants, propofol, dexmedetomidine, and antipsychotics, may be used as alternatives to and in addition to benzodiazepines, especially in the case of protracted delirium with therapeutic resistance. Certain prospects in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome are associated with ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate, which is a bit similar to benzodiazepines in its pharmacology.
Keywords: alcohol use disorders, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, alcohol seizures, alcohol hallucinosis, delirium tremens, benzodiazepines.


Possibilities of using Mexidol in the complex therapy of mental disorders

Author:
V.K. SHAMREY, E.S. KURASOV, V.V. NECHIPORENKO, A.I. KOLCHEV, N.V. TSYGAN
Kirov military medical Academy, St Petersburg, Russia

Summary:
A review of the current literature on the possible use of mexidol (ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate) in the treatment of mental (including addictive) disorders is conducted. The possibility of its use to reduce negative psychopathological symptoms, neurocognitive deficit, manifestations of the antipsychotic syndrome (including its extrapyramidal disorders) in antipsychotic treatment of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and insomnia disorders in the complex therapy of borderline mental disorders has been shown. The potential of mexidol in the treatment of addictive pathology, as well as the effects of intoxication caused by alcohol and other psychoactive (including narcotic) substances, deserves special attention.
Keywords: mental disorders, addictive pathology, Mexidol, treatment, complex therapy.