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Assessment of Valproate on Ethanol Withdrawal
Sponsor: CAMC Health System
Summary
Alcohol use disorder, or heavy drinking, is commonly seen in patients who present to trauma centers. These patients are at risk for Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS), which is collection of symptoms that can range from anxiety and restlessness to seizures, delirium and even death. The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment (CIWA) tool is routinely used to assess alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Benzodiazepines (BZD) are commonly administered to trauma patients who exhibit symptoms of AWS based on the CIWA scoring system. Although these medications have proven efficacy, they can also have negative side effects which may affect recovery. Valprate (VPA) is a medication which may have efficacy in management of AWS symptoms, thus ameliorating or preventing the need for BZD administration. This trial will study the effectiveness of VPA in the prevention of AWS symptoms by comparing the amount of BZD use in trauma patients who receive BZD treatment as indicated by CIWA scores with patients who receive prophylactic VPA therapy in addition to BZD as indicated by CIWA scores.
Official title: Prospective Assessment of Valproate on Ethanol Withdrawal
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
3
Start Date
2017-07-11
Completion Date
2019-06-25
Last Updated
2026-08-18
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Valproate
Valproate is an anti-epileptic medication that can influence the chemical changes in the brain that result from alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) via three mechanisms of action: (1) an increase in GABA activity, (2) inhibition of glutamate binding to NMDA, and (3) restoration of the balance between dopamine and acetylcholine activity. VPA may be effective in the prevention of AWS, and could serve as efficacious adjuvant to traditional benzodiazepine (BZD) therapy for AWS, both decreasing symptoms of AWS and decreasing the use of BZDs.
Lorazepam
Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine used to treat symptoms of AWS. Standard of care at CAMC is monitoring by CIWA tool and administration of lorazepam according to CIWA score.
Locations (2)
Charleston Area Medical Center, General Hospital, Level 1 Trauma Center
Charleston, West Virginia, United States
Charleston Area Medical Center
Charleston, West Virginia, United States