Double-blind controlled trial of bromocriptine, chlordiazepoxide and chlormethiazole for alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Seventy-one patients undergoing withdrawal from alcohol were randomly assigned to treatment with oral bromocriptine, chlormethiazole or chlordiazepoxide. Forty-one percent had alcoholic hepatitis and/or cirrhosis. Patients were stratified into two groups: major and minor withdrawal symptoms. The latter group included a placebo tratment. Bromocriptine was ineffective in treating withdrawal symptoms, whilst chlormethiazole and chlordiazepoxide were equally effective. These findings do not support the evidence from animal and clinical studies suggesting that the disturbances in the dopaminergic system found in alcohol dependence and withdrawal can be reversed by dopamine agonists.